Notable closings recently, some very old names are gone. Recession related, who knows? But there's alway someone else standing in the wings with money to take over.

Societe Anonyme---Oct 1, Fire, interior totally consumed. 1 death.

Mazzo---Closed now. The club observed its last Friday and Saturday nights last weekend, Sept 24, 25. Quite a few came to pay their final respects from the looks of the long lines Sat night.

Rum Runners---Near Anne Frank at the Toren. Now known as "Werck', Carribean specialities are gone, presumably the great selection of rum drinks as well. Our inquiring minds want to know: What happened to the parrots?

Nameless Dutch Cafe--On the Warmoestraat, facing Korte Niezel, this small typical Dutch lunchroom-resto, whose name we never did know, was the only 'normal' place in the area. Or perhaps it was actually the oddball in this neighbourhood. Pity it's gone. It's now another British Pub, which have notably spread in the town---like an infection. Dirt cheap fares on low cost UK airlines and a resulting heavy influx of no budget tourists over the last few years. More football pubs and piss drunk lads puking, screaming insults and baring their asses to the ladies, and other displays of clever British (t)wit. It doesn't get any better than that!

Virgin Megastore---Magna Plaza. Not exactly an old friend. The less "mega" anything here, as far as we're concerned, the better for local businesses. No idea when really, we just noticed it was gone. In the basement where it used to be, along with other smaller shops, there's a small cd-dvd movie place: www.dvdvalley.nl

And of course the other news is the reconstruction of the OzA. Preparations are underway to drain the canal and rebuild the walls. Perhaps now a notable lady of our acquantance who now faces the canal will finally learn that the depth of the canals is a mere 2.5 meters (approx 8ft)---rather than her astounding belief that they were 15 meters! (50ft!) As far as pursuading her that they are not directly connected to the sewage pipes of all the buildings in Amsterdam, we'll leave that to others. Stoofsteeg also torn up. Oude Nieuwstraat in Singel also a mess.

In addition to renewing the canal structure, relaying the street is often part of the bargain as well---as being currently done on Stoofsteeg. Should be big messy fun for many, many months to come. As this takes a while, we'd guess that many ladies are going to be changing locations so as to be out of the mess. Or maybe not.

The Virgin Megastore closed about 4 years ago!

it hasnt been four years, and it wasnt recently either. seems like we were in there recently---maybe a year ago---who knows, we ignored it usually. we just realized it ain't there no 'mo.

many of those travel-guide-book-things and web sites have some catching up to do---its still listed as current everywhere, and not a word listed as to a closing date. good thing we usually publish this stuff first, because they wouldnt have a source otherwise.

if in the case of Virgin, we slightly erred, kindly bugger off ;-)

Goodbye Virgin, hello local drop shops.

When in A-Dam I love to browse the record shops for potential out-of-print and European release records. There happen to be several quality venues for such perusing....and what better place to meet a likeminded cool ladies who might be in to the same music you are? I place the uber-endorsement on this one, my personal fave :)

CONCERTO
Utrechtsestraat 54-60, Southern Canal Belt (626 6577 / 624 5467). Tram 4.
Open 10am-6pm Mon-Wed, Fri, Sat; 10am-9pm Thur; noon-6pm Sun.
Credit (over €12 only) AmEx, DC, MC, V.

Jazz afficionados would walk "Miles" or even take the "Trane" for the premium selection of used and new albums. Looking for classic Bach recordings, obscure Beatles items, or that fave Diana Ross album that got nicked from your party? This is the joint. There are also second-hand 45s and new releases at decent prices. Massive!

After walking the Wallen last week I did notice quite alot of construction. The mud and construction debris will make a mess of all the Kamers on the Stoof,, not to mention the ugly sight of the various cranes and construction supplies scattered along the way. Maybe I should look into some sub-contracting in the Wallen,, urban renewal :-) or should I say "herbal renewal".

Nothing like hanging out in a nice country club setting like the various FKK clubs in Germany while the massive construction projects in the Wallen are under way. NO Mud,,no rain,, no vagrants,,, Such choices !

Tot ziens,

James

The Virgin store definatley closed at the end of 2000. I buought the official Euro 2000 soudtrack there during the summer of the tournament. When I returned to Amsterdam in December of 2000 the store was closed.

There is another store worth checking out; although it seems more like a museum.
Don't know the name of it, bet it features vintage computer and video game systems of the late 70s and 80s. Definately a blast from the past!

It is located in the alley which seperates the two halves of the Hotel Victoria (accross from central station).
It is open at odd times, so if you can't find it check later in the day, or the next day.

And if this store has gone out of business........never mind :)

oh fudge! it can't have been 4 years since we last noticed or visited the place---seems like just a few months ago---but we'll admit to an odd and occassional misfiring of our memories which is not going to be improved by the recent re-legalization and wide availability of one of our favourite drinks, absinthe, although we tried a bottle in prague and thought it was rubbish and left it in a trash bin at the train station and before that the first time we finally had the stuff in 1994 on a trip to Barcelona, and its been that long so we're making up for lost time. now, where were we?

I was at Societe Anonyme over Christmas, and it was very much alive and kicking. Fire had damaged part of the upstairs (repairs were in progress), but the bar area was undamaged.

yeah we know :-) this is an old post---from last September, just after the event. as we recall at the time, there was some question about whether it would re-open.

OzA renewal is still in progress. Stoofsteeg is long finished.


Cheers.

As long as the Arendsnest and In De Wildeman dont close down there will be plenty of good reasons to visit Amsterdam.