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Denton music venue Rubber Gloves to close this summer

Longtime music lovers who have stepped foot in Denton likely attended a show at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios. But new visitors may never get the chance.

The venue, which opened in 1997, announced Wednesday it's closing "for good (tentatively)" on June 5, according to a Facebook post. A representative from the venue could not immediately be reached to clarify exactly what that means, but the rest of the post suggests this was a sudden development.

"Please trust us when we say we didn't want or expect this to happen," the note says. "We're still trying to wrap our heads around the shock of it all ourselves."

Rubber Gloves' calendar also suggests this was unanticipated -- it has eight concerts scheduled after June 5. The message on Facebook apologizes to those bands booked after the close date, and mentions several in-the-works "surprise shows to see us off right throughout the month."

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It's unclear whether Rubber Gloves' concerts scheduled for May will continue as planned.

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Owner Josh Baish told The Dentonite the decision to close was made two days ago.

"It's like a death," he said. "It's something I never wanted, but it's a reality I have to accept and move on."

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He elaborated to Central Track that the closure is due to "personal and financial issues" caused by his ongoing divorce. Baish owns the property where Rubber Gloves is located.

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Rubber Gloves is Denton's second iconic venue to throw in the towel. Last November, Hailey's, a 12-year staple of the music community, announced it was revamping its model after a spell of financial hardship. Owner Jennifer Gibbs is turning the space into two new concepts, a "sports barcade" and a speakeasy-like cocktail bar.

Rubber Gloves, which doubled as a practice studio, was equally if not more beloved, especially among bands who used the facility. Fans shared their memories on the Facebook thread about the first bands they saw there or times they performed there.

"It’s been the journey of a lifetime we wouldn’t trade for anything. We’re glad we were able to share it with some incredible people," the venue said in its note.

"Thank you for the music and memories we won’t soon forget."