Matt Hewson
Iconic blues music restaurant Pistol Pete’s Food n Blues will close its doors forever at the end of June due to economic circumstances.
Owner Pete Raimondo and business partner Kerri Raimondo announced the venue’s imminent closure on social media last week, leading to an outpouring of thanks and commiseration from patrons and performers.
The Little Malop Street venue, renowned for its combination of Southern cuisine and blues, roots and funk music, has become a beloved hangout for food and music lovers across the region, the state and beyond since opening 10 years ago.
Mr Raimondo said the show of support from the community since the announcement had been heartwarming.
“I sort of knew, but you forget when you’re in there, doing what you do,” he said.
“I’ve had heaps of people coming through during the week (sharing) little tidbits, like, ‘I’ve been bringing my son here for his birthday since he was 15 and he’s now 20’.
“To see it from the punters’ point of view and how it’s affected them, the different impact it’s had on people, it’s pretty cool in that sense.”
Born and raised in Geelong, Mr Raimondo worked as a chef for over a decade before his growing love for Southern American food led to opening Pistol Pete’s.
“I was cooking a lot of New Orleans stuff at home, and I was getting into the music as well… it’s a natural fit,” he said.
“And you had to go to Melbourne to see this gig, or that gig, it was all up there. That was also a part of it, you know, we shouldn’t have to go to Melbourne for decent music.
“(Since then) there’s definitely been an increase in places musicians can play, from bigger venues to little places, little wine bars or cafes, which is great.”
Bluesman, songwriter and producer Wayne Jury, who has a long association with Mr Raimondo and Pistol Pete’s, said the news had hit him hard.
“It’s sad for the region, I don’t know where else in Geelong people… who want to play the roots, blues, soul funky kind of stuff are going to play,” he said.
“Pete has been such a champion for roots music in Geelong and provided a really warm and welcoming environment for patrons and musos.”
The community aspect of Pistol Pete’s is one many musicians and punters will miss once the venue closes. Guitarist Troy Love recalled how his son came to work at Pistol Pete’s.
“One time I was playing there and Pete noticed my son was soundchecking my guitar,” he said.
“He said, ‘Troy, if he wants to save up for a guitar amp, tell him to come work for me, right? I’ll give him a stint on the dishwashing and then he can take in all the great acts, all the bands.’
“It’s that type of place. Everyone’s there to have a bit of fun, but they’re also there to look out for each other.”
Mr Raimondo said building a community was not something he had set out to do, but had just naturally occurred.
“I’m from an Italian background… and it’s not just that, the places I’ve worked have always had a generous, family vibe, and that works with the Southern hospitality thing as well,” he said.
“In the early days we couldn’t afford to pay as much as (performers) might deserve, but it was like, hey, there’s some food up, that kind of thing.
“It was our way of trying to make it more enjoyable for the artists. So I think the community just built and people felt comfortable and good there.”
Mr Raimondo said he was proud of the positive impact his venue had on the region.
“It’s been a good 10 years and it’s been a hard 10 years at the same time,” he said.
“There were lots of little highlights, whether it was getting someone of a certain calibre… Chris Wilson was probably the biggest one for me, because I was a bit of a fanboy, and then he became a regular with (partner) Sarah (Carroll) and the kids.
“There’s been a lot of that, seeing young musicians that have played there who have grown in the past ten years to where they are now. It’s always fun seeing that. Hopefully other places will sort of keep an eye on the younger ones coming up.”
Local musician Andrea Robertson, her husband David, son Heath and daughter Carly have performed often at Pistol Pete’s over the years, both in their collective band the Von Robertsons and also in various individual projects.
She said Pete and Kerri had created a “warm and inviting space”, the closure of which had caused “a genuine feeling of grief” within the music community.
“Pistol Pete’s has so wonderfully and generously supported me and my music, and that of my children, friends and peers over the past ten years, and it’s hard to imagine central Geelong without it operating,” she said.
“I don’t think we’ll see a more supportive venue like this in our town for a very long time, if ever again. Thanks for the good times, Pistol Pete’s. And there have been many.”
Pistol Pete’s will host its regular program of gigs until it closes, including ReSound Festival performances on June 22 and a final weekend of gigs on June 28 and 29.
“I’d rather go out on our terms as much as I can and on a bit of a high for everybody, (give people) that opportunity to come in for one last hurrah,” Mr Raimondo said.
“If you rob (people) of that, I think it’s worse. And I think it would be worse for us too.”
