Renovated Joe's Pub Will Include New Lounge, Kitchen

Joe's Pub, a vital part of New York City's cultural landscape, serves more than 100,000 audience members annually and first opened in 1998, presenting more than 800 performances a year.

The venue closed for a short time prior to an October re-opening with a new design; today, owner Josh Pickard told Eater.com that Joe's Pub will add "a new kitchen, a David Rockwell-designed lounge, and and expanded lobby cafe as part of the continuing improvement and renovation of the venue."

The addition - tentatively named "The Library" - is set to open in the third or fourth quarter.

Joe Papp acquired the building in 1965 with help from the City of New York and it became one of the first buildings to be declared a New York City Landmark. The Public Theater's mission - that arts should be accessible to all regardless of socioeconomic background - echoes the democratic legacy of the Astor Library that made knowledge available to everyone. The complex was transformed into a functioning performance center and still operates as The Public Theater's downtown home, housing five theaters, administrative and Production Offices, rehearsal space and Joe's Pub.

JOE'S PUB at The Public Theater debuted in October 1998 and quickly became one of New York City's most celebrated and in-demand showcase venues for live music and performance. With its genre-blind booking and vast diversity of interests, the stage at Joe's Pub gives voice to a world of varied and stellar artists. Joe's Pub is open seven days a week, regularly hosting as many as three shows a day. Dinner and drink service is available during every performance. In addition to its reputation of presenting internationally known stars, Joe's Pub has also developed into a premier showcase stage for up-and-coming musicians and emerging artists from a variety of disciplines. The Public Theater is partnered with restaurateur JOE'S PUB, LLC, owned and operated by Josh Pickard (Locanda Verde, The Dutch, Lure, B&B, Chinatown Brasserie), Serge Becker (Miss Lily's, La Esquina, The Box, Café Select), Paul Salmon (Jamaica's Rockhouse Hotel, Miss Lily's) and Kevin Abbott (Managing Director of Joe's Pub).