Sydney’s Beloved Goodgod Small Club Is Up For Sale

Sydney’s beloved basement venue Goodgod Small Club is officially up for sale, with owners Jimmy Sing and Hana Shimada announcing they are moving on after five years at the venue known for its cosy vibes, all-night parties and big-name DJ sets.

In a statement posted to Facebook (below), Sing and Shimada say they are putting Goodgod and its Danceteria on the market, but not because of Sydney’s lockout laws, which have helped put some of the city’s venues out of business.

“Despite the challenging terrain that Sydney’s nightlife finds itself in with these lockout laws, our reason to move on thankfully is not to do with regulatory challenges or any financial ones,” say Sing and Shimada.

“This has been a difficult decision but personally we feel it’s time to emerge from our beloved basement to explore other creative projects, perhaps involving a little more daylight.”

Goodgod’s current owners are calling for “entrepreneurs with vision who believe they have the know-how, passion and resources to acquire the venue and evolve the legacy of this great place” to come forward.

The owners say the venue will remain open thoughout its change of hands, with the venue’s fifth birthday party currently in the planning process for next month.

Sing and Shimada have also thanked Goodgod regulars, saying, “Over the last 18 months we’ve definitely needed to make adjustments to the club’s programming, but have never been lacking in support from you guys.

“Goodgod’s foundations in a diverse music formula and open-minded vibe have endured and kept the place buzzing. Our recent months have in fact been some of our biggest ever – a testament to Goodgod and its community, and for that we have you to thank.”

Read their statement in full, below.

UPDATE 02/12/15: Goodgod Small Club has new operators, Esperance Hotel Group, who will keep the space as a venue called Plan B Small Club. Goodgod has also announced its last-ever parties under the Goodgod name.

Gallery: Major Lazer (DJ Set) @ Goodgod Small Club, Sydney 28.11.12 / Photos: Zoltan Blazer

Goodgod Small Club Sale Statement (Via Facebook)

To our Goodgod massive,

We, Jimmy & Hana, have decided that after 5 amazing years of running Goodgod, the time has come to put the call out for someone else to take on this great Small Club.

This has been a difficult decision but personally we feel it’s time to emerge from our beloved basement to explore other creative projects, perhaps involving a little more daylight.

Despite the challenging terrain that Sydney’s nightlife finds itself in with these lockout laws, our reason to move on thankfully is not to do with regulatory challenges or any financial ones. Over the last 18 months we’ve definitely needed to make adjustments to the club’s programming, but have never been lacking in support from you guys. Goodgod’s foundations in a diverse music formula and open-minded vibe have endured and kept the place buzzing. Our recent months have in fact been some of our biggest ever – a testament to Goodgod and its community, and for that we have you to thank.

In this call out we’re seeking entrepreneurs with vision who believe they have the knowhow, passion and resources to acquire the venue and evolve the legacy of this great place. We’re asking, who’s next?

Five years ago we took over this Chinatown basement with the ambition of transforming it into an other-worldly place that didn’t fit the hospitality moulds that Sydney had on offer. We had our work cut out for us. The old basement was in a wretched state and we had no experience in running a venue. We poured all our time, borrowed money and energy into the venue and transformed it into what we imagined it could be; a place where music, food and nightlife came together in a way that was wild but welcoming, exotic yet homely, and extravagantly DIY.

Thankfully we had A LOT of help which kept us knowing that many people wanted just what we did. In this way, Goodgod is the same club today as it was all those years ago. It is a place that is more than the sum of its parts, built by a community for a community. All our friends and staff, our promoters, the artists, the music lovers and the party goers have worked together to create an energy that we have been fortunate enough to provide a home for.

But yes, after these 5 incredible years its time for us to hand over the torch. For those wishing to register interest in the venue please make contact with Jerry Leis at Metro Commercial – jleis@metrocommercial.com.au – who is assisting us with the process.

In the meantime, don’t freak, this isn’t goodbye! Goodgod will of course remain open throughout this transition, we just wanted to let you guys know first. It is party time as always, with all our events running as scheduled and Belly Bao going full steam ahead. Make sure you get down to celebrate our 5th birthday with us next month!

Thanks for all your ongoing support.

Jimmy & Hana x