Legends Bar and Venue Looking to Relocate After Landlord Dispute

After a year-long court case, Legends Bar and Venue is looking to move to a new location. The building housing Legends sits at 3801 Harrison Ave. in Cheviot and consists of Legends along with four residential apartments. Legends operates as a bar that offers a variety of shows every week, utilizing its stage and sitting area. Now, they’re seeking the community’s help to move these shows to a new location.

Legends has served as a prominent music venue in the area since 2011. They’re known for putting on shows in genres spanning from rock to hip-hop. Now, the venue looks to keep up its traditions in a spot just a few hundred yards from its current location.

In a GoFundMe campaign created on Jan. 14, Legends posted that their issues with the current location stemmed from a dispute over the building’s roof. They state that the problem with the roof consists of water leaking into their venue from a flooded upstairs apartment. After bringing this concern to their lawyer, they advised them to put all upcoming rent into escrow, or, in other words, deposit their rent money with the clerk of courts instead of the landlord as a signal that the landlord is not fulfilling their side of the contract.

“Well, the landlord didn’t like that and has now been attempting to break the remaining five years we have on our lease and evict us,” the venue says in its GoFundMe campaign. The validity of said lease agreement was a point of contention between the two parties.

According to documents obtained through the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts' website, the landlord argued no five-year agreement was reached. He contends the venue has been operating month to month since 2022.

The landlord has yet to respond to CityBeat’s requests for comment. Legends asked that CityBeat not include the name of the landlord due to fear of retaliation. 

The court ruled in favor of the landlord on Dec. 18 and has since ordered the release of all the rental funds in escrow. Legends is planning to host all currently booked shows until May. After that point, they are tentatively planning to move to their new location. 

The site of the new location requires repairs before it can become a functioning concert hall. Legends has not disclosed the address. According to the GoFundMe post, “We have found the perfect spot to move the venue, however this new location will need a lot of renovation to get it up to par and able to host the shows we have booked for the remainder of the year.”

“Come to a show, buy a beer, buy a shirt from a band, enjoy the band experience,” Legends promoter Qubert Seiter says. He also expressed the importance of local artists coming together to put on shows.

For the time being, Legends Bar and Venue will remain open at their location at 3801 Harrison Ave. in Cheviot. You can donate to Legends Bar and Venue’s GoFundMe campaign by visiting gofundme.com/f/diy-til-we-die.