The building that once housed Montreal's Katacombes co-op at the corner of St-Laurent Boulevard and Ontario Street has officially gone the way of the wrecking ball.
The venue, which closed in December 2019 due to rising rents and high taxes, catered primarily to the metal, punk and underground music communities but also played host to other music genres, community events, fundraisers and comedy shows.
Local musicians and concertgoers were quick to react to the photos circulating on social media of the building being demolished.
"I have played a ton of shows there. Seemed like a second home," commented one person on Facebook.
Another person added, "so many great concerts there!"
Although the building itself did not hold much architectural value, the structure became iconic for its skull and crossbones logo above the entrance and its displays of skulls.
Prior to closing, the co-op had been active for 13 years and originally opened on St-Laurent Boulevard closer to Ste. Catherine Street. It would eventually move to its final destination in 2009.
Some reports suggest the venue hosted upwards of 2,000 shows over the course of its existence.
Online comments were quick to assume that the site would eventually become condos however, according to past coverage, a non-profit has purchased the land to build affordable student housing.
The demolition hit Montreal's music community especially hard since it followed news that underground music venue Traxide in St. Henri would not reopen following a mix of sexual assault allegations and recent vandalism.