Leah Hamilton | staff writer

Bottlerocket Social Hall, a 1970s-themed bar in Pittsburgh’s Allentown neighborhood that has hosted the likes of “Mario Kart with a Live Band” and an improv wedding event, will be bringing those ideas to the rainy city of Seattle in the next year.

The haven for Pittsburgh creatives and artists announced that their new hall would be located in the basement of Seattle’s famous music venue The Crocodile. Bottlerocket plans to transform the area, which was the site of two different venues, with tiered stages and old-fashioned bars.

“Our hope is to return the best programming that both these spaces have offered into one, cohesive home,” an Aug. 31 Facebook post said.

The conversation about a Seattle-based location began around Thanksgiving, but the idea of exploring new cities and regions has always been in the minds of the owners.

“We wanted to build something from scratch with a new musical culture,” said Chris Copen, creator and owner of Bottlerocket.

Seattle provided the perfect set of circumstances as the venue’s previous owners was being put into bankruptcy. Despite their unusual start in a bankruptcy court, Bottlerocket was able to purchase the space relatively quickly and focus on their renovations.

Certain details from Pittsburgh will be implemented into the Seattle venue to acknowledge Bottlerocket’s roots such as the original wallpaper, the lighting and the shared center spaces. But to add a fresh perspective, they are utilizing Seattle’s history as a maritime town to inspire a new look based on the sailors and fishermen of the city.

Bottlerocket hopes that in this new location they will be able to provide a new community for artists in Seattle.

Hannah Confer, assistant manager at The Crocodile, said there has been a real struggle in the city for the past couple years in creating a safe space and providing opportunities.

“Community spaces are needed more now than ever, and being involved in that is incredibly important to us,” Confer said.

Confer said she is thrilled to fill a gap that’s been affecting so many and to ensure that local performers are at the core of Bottlerocket.

While Bottlerocket is grateful to send expressions out to a new area, the Pittsburgh location will still be up and running, not changing its day-to-day schedule.

Pittsburgh’s “hard work” mindset stays with the whole staff and is the key to Bottlerocket’s innovation, Copen said.

“Pittsburgh is a place where people give their all to do the best they can do, we try to use that throughout our work,” he said. “Pittsburgh is somewhat of our creative engine.”

Even though some main staff will be spending their time in between both cities, Pittsburgh will remain the flagship venue of the brand.

At their Pittsburgh location, they have partnered with various bookstores and newspapers to create a more dynamic environment that engages the surrounding neighborhoods.

In Seattle, they are actively looking to create new relationships that have been vital to the venue’s prosperity.

Partnerships between the venue and local Seattle labels have been in discussion, and promise great connection with the community and the music scene.

“A big part of what makes Bottlerocket so exciting is giving smaller bands and locals a place that is more accessible to play,” Confer said.

As for further expansion, Bottlerocket is focusing on the new Seattle location and ensuring it’s providing the best service possible. If this new location is successful, they will eventually look to grow across the country.

Bottlerocket is currently working with operations in Seattle to aim for an open date of around March 2027.

Leah Hamilton can be reached at hamiltonl4@duq.edu