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yesterday

Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace Closes After 28 Years as Sale Remains Unresolved

Citing pandemic-driven revenue declines with aging stewardship as driving the closure, Jim Shaw hopes a preservation-minded buyer will soon emerge

A Pontiac Grand Ville convertible hangs behind the bar at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace in Bakersfield, Calif., on April 14, 2023.
Historical photos, many of Buck Owens with famous musicians, adorn the walls at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace in Bakersfield, Calif., on April 14, 2023.
Line dancers dance to country band Stampede at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace in Bakersfield, Calif., on April 14, 2023.
Buck Owens in his signature red jacket performs with his band, the Buckaroos.

Overview

  • The venue played its final show last Saturday after opening in 1996 as a combined restaurant, concert hall and Buck Owens museum
  • The Buck Owens Private Foundation has listed the 21,000-square-foot Western Revival–style property at 2800 Buck Owens Blvd. for $7.5 million since mid-2024
  • Jim Shaw, 78, said the shutdown reflects pandemic impacts, a slowing economy and the advancing age of family members managing the operation
  • Fans and former performers, including Dwight Yoakam, Garth Brooks and Taylor Swift, have pleaded on social media for a buyer to preserve the site’s musical heritage
  • Industry observers warn the closure underscores mounting financial pressures on midsized cultural venues as touring favors larger arenas and restaurant margins tighten