Fans line up for final night of dancing at the historic Mayan Theatre in DTLA
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- It's the end of an era in downtown Los Angeles. The historic Mayan Theatre nightclub is closing its doors permanently, but not before one final celebration on Saturday night.
People were lined up down the block, waiting to get inside for one last night of dancing. Eyewitness News spoke to patrons who said they had been going to the Mayan and making great memories since the '80s, and they're sad to see the landmark go.
"It goes back to the '80s, I mean, we pretty much opened this place. It's a landmark," Edwin Marmol from Fullerton said.
The President of The Mayan, Sammy Chao, shared in a statement that the decision to close did not come lightly, but shared that over the last five years, they have experienced adversity.
That statement went on to share, in part:
"We've done everything possible to stay afloat, adapt, and serve, but the path forward has been eroded beyond recognition. We have given this business everything we have-and more-and come this far, so the decision to close is not so much one of defeat, but of necessity and truth."
Before the crowd showed up on Saturday night, Eyewitness News got a chance to talk to La Nueva Ola de Cumbia, one of the last bands performing at The Mayan Theatre.
"It's an honor for us to perform here. I wish I was able to enjoy it. I moved to the States five years ago, so I never had the chance to come here, so this is my first time and last time," Chelyn Dion said.
"I think it's just going to be wild, and we can't wait to party with everybody," Luzio Nava said.
And, the crowd was ready to party too for the final night of music and dancing in a spot many consider an L.A. landmark.
"I decided not to wear high heels tonight so I can dance the whole night, because if I wear high heels, I'll get tired," Liz Vargas said. "So yes, definitely, we're going to close with a bang. We're going to dance the whole night, and we're going to enjoy it."
The president of The Mayan also shared his gratitude for all the people who visited and performed, saying, "This theater has been more than a venue, it has been a home. You are a part of its story forever."
SEE ALSO: The Mayan, iconic downtown LA nightclub and music venue, to close in September
