Rock Hall Annex closing in January

By John Soeder

Plain Dealer Pop Music Critic

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex in New York City will cease operations Sunday, Jan. 3, just over a year after its grand opening.

The closing was announced in a statement issued Thursday by S2BN Entertainment, a partner in the venture. No reason was given for the shutdown.

“Our financial partners made the decision,” said Terry Stewart, president and CEO of Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

S2BN Entertainment, a firm headed by Rolling Stones tour promoter Michael Cohl, is one of three for-profit partners that financed the $10 million Annex. Jam Exhibitions and Running Subway, the production company behind the Broadway hit “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” also have stakes in the venture.

Stewart referred questions about operations at the Annex and the rationale behind closing the facility to S2BN Entertainment.

The 25,000-square-foot Annex opened last December in the basement of a landmark building in the trendy SoHo district. Currently on view there is an award-winning John Lennon exhibit.

Some items on display at the Annex came from the Rock Hall and will return to Cleveland. Other pieces were on loan from third parties and will go back to their owners.

Previously announced plans to open a Rock Hall offshoot in Memphis, Tenn., in conjunction with the Gibson Guitar Corp. are on hold indefinitely, according to Stewart.

Nonetheless, the Annex concept might be reincarnated as a traveling exhibition or possibly find a new temporary home in another city, Stewart said.