A line-up that'll span all genres of music, from rock and pop to Latin, bluegrass and R&B is being booked for the Music Box, San Diego's new live music venue that will launch this week in the former Anthology space in Little Italy. Initially, the Music Box will be open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, but owners' representative Damon Barone tells Eater that they plan to eventually expand the concert hall's programming and its operating hours.
The three story, 13,000-square-foot entertainment hub, which ended its run as Anthology in 2013, has been completely refreshed and now has larger, 800 person capacity. On the ground level, they've replaced the horseshoe bar with a linear bar that allows for more space and have cleared out the main floor to maximize standing room in front of the concert stage. Along the mezzanine, there are six new "opera booths" with prime views of the stage that will offer bottle service and require reservations. The top floor, decorated with a music legends-themed mural from a local artist, includes an extended bar, a lounge, tables for dining and a new outdoor patio. There's also a private VIP room and a deluxe green room for featured acts.
While Anthology was set up as a full sit-down restaurant, the Music Box will have a more casual food component; Best Beverage Catering is handling all the food and drink, which includes cocktails on tap and a menu of mostly small plates. The venue will open three hours before each show for food service and Barone says they may offer both a pre-performance and late night happy hour.
