Will New Year's Eve be the finale for Finale?

An article in today's Post-Dispatch by pop critic Kevin Johnson confirms that Finale Music and Dining in Clayton will close permanently following the New Year's Eve celebration featuring Wild, Cool and Swingin'.

While the closing had been rumored since September, when it was announced that the hotel building housing the club would be converted to condos for senior citizens, this is the first time anyone from Finale has spoken on the record to confirm the news. Owner Steve Schankman told Johnson that he's keeping all the fixtures and equipment from the club and is seeking another location in the mid-county area, with hopes of opening a new incarnation of Finale in the spring.

Here's hoping that Schankman is successful in his quest to find a new home for Finale, which over the past three years has featured a number of touring jazz acts as well as local jazz performers and a variety of other entertainment.