The 1905 Jazz Club - For The Love of Jazz
Donation protected
KEEP JAZZ ALIVE IN PORTLAND, OREGON. The 1905 is Portland’s only full-time jazz club. We offer live jazz seven nights a week and want to continue to bring the culture of jazz to the Portland community. But we need your help! Over the years of shaping our vision for live jazz in the Portland community, we have experienced many successes, but also some setbacks and challenges. Now, we are asking for your support for our pizzeria that turned into what Downbeat magazine recognizes as “one of the world’s top jazz venues.”
OUR STORY
Beginning
October 1, 2016: The 1905 was born as a pizzeria and bar. We opened our gate to the community of Portland and offered a wide array of entertainment. In November of that year, we had our first Ron Steen Jam, which became the cornerstone of our music programming and continues to attract musicians of all ages each Monday night. Other entertainment included karaoke, hip-hop DJs, singer/songwriter open mics, and some other live jazz acts.
Middle
Our founder, Aaron Barnes, who taught high school band in Portland-area public schools for twelve years, wanted to create something more unique. After a period of featuring entertainment spanning multiple genres, The 1905 settled on its brand as a full-time jazz club. With delicious pizza, bespoke cocktails, and renowned jazz, Mississippi Avenue gained a venue unlike any other in Portland. Keeping up with Aaron’s vision to bring jazz to ALL of Portland, The 1905 allows minors until 11pm, which provides listening and performance opportunities to jazz aficionados of all ages.
We are not at the end. We are just beginning our middle and, with your help, we want to keep The 1905 strong and healthy!
We took a risk and we are proud of it. By providing live entertainment seven nights per week we were able to offer patrons a place to hear Portland’s finest performers in an intimate setting reminiscent of the iconic clubs in NYC. We welcomed anyone and everyone, regularly charged no cover, and priced our food and beverage modestly. As a result, something amazing happened: a community appeared where one did not exist before. In early 2020, Downbeat Magazine named The 1905 one of the world’s top venues to hear live jazz.
Now, we are proud to feature the finest local musicians as well as touring artists from around the globe. As our community can attest, we are busy. We are a standing room, shoulder-to-shoulder, “filled with the electric energy of a Friday, but it’s only Monday” kind of space. A place to congregate… to eat, drink, make friends, and enjoy the jazz art form. Born a simple pizzeria, The 1905 has grown into something truly unique, with a life of its own. If you are reading this, you are part of us, you know how strong we are and, most importantly, how much stronger we can become.
THE ASK
We have established The 1905 as a world-class jazz club that fills an essential niche in the Portland Music scene. We're building community by keeping quality high while keeping prices down. And we have exciting plans for the future. However, although we're making money day-to-day, our initial start-up debt is holding us back from moving ahead with our plans--and that's why we're launching this campaign.
We ask for your help by both contributing to and spreading the word about this fundraiser. With the many fans of jazz and patrons of The 1905, we know that we can achieve these goals! Every donation, regardless of amount, will make a difference.
EMERGENCY TIER: $50,000
In the wake of COVID-19, we need help keeping the business on top of its liabilities. Most notably, we would like to be able to pay our staff during the time we are closed.
Tier 1: $100,000
Pay down startup debt and address pressing expenses.
Tier 2: $150,000
Build a sufficient ‘runway” to innovate and implement strategic changes to The 1905’s operation, including, but not limited to staffing, menu, and more jazz.
Tier 3: $200,000+
Facility improvements, which may include patio cover, interior design changes allowing for more tables and chairs, new floor, acoustical treatment, sound proofing, and larger stage.
Thank you all for your continued support!
- The 1905
OUR STORY
Beginning
October 1, 2016: The 1905 was born as a pizzeria and bar. We opened our gate to the community of Portland and offered a wide array of entertainment. In November of that year, we had our first Ron Steen Jam, which became the cornerstone of our music programming and continues to attract musicians of all ages each Monday night. Other entertainment included karaoke, hip-hop DJs, singer/songwriter open mics, and some other live jazz acts.
Middle
Our founder, Aaron Barnes, who taught high school band in Portland-area public schools for twelve years, wanted to create something more unique. After a period of featuring entertainment spanning multiple genres, The 1905 settled on its brand as a full-time jazz club. With delicious pizza, bespoke cocktails, and renowned jazz, Mississippi Avenue gained a venue unlike any other in Portland. Keeping up with Aaron’s vision to bring jazz to ALL of Portland, The 1905 allows minors until 11pm, which provides listening and performance opportunities to jazz aficionados of all ages.
We are not at the end. We are just beginning our middle and, with your help, we want to keep The 1905 strong and healthy!
We took a risk and we are proud of it. By providing live entertainment seven nights per week we were able to offer patrons a place to hear Portland’s finest performers in an intimate setting reminiscent of the iconic clubs in NYC. We welcomed anyone and everyone, regularly charged no cover, and priced our food and beverage modestly. As a result, something amazing happened: a community appeared where one did not exist before. In early 2020, Downbeat Magazine named The 1905 one of the world’s top venues to hear live jazz.
Now, we are proud to feature the finest local musicians as well as touring artists from around the globe. As our community can attest, we are busy. We are a standing room, shoulder-to-shoulder, “filled with the electric energy of a Friday, but it’s only Monday” kind of space. A place to congregate… to eat, drink, make friends, and enjoy the jazz art form. Born a simple pizzeria, The 1905 has grown into something truly unique, with a life of its own. If you are reading this, you are part of us, you know how strong we are and, most importantly, how much stronger we can become.
THE ASK
We have established The 1905 as a world-class jazz club that fills an essential niche in the Portland Music scene. We're building community by keeping quality high while keeping prices down. And we have exciting plans for the future. However, although we're making money day-to-day, our initial start-up debt is holding us back from moving ahead with our plans--and that's why we're launching this campaign.
We ask for your help by both contributing to and spreading the word about this fundraiser. With the many fans of jazz and patrons of The 1905, we know that we can achieve these goals! Every donation, regardless of amount, will make a difference.
EMERGENCY TIER: $50,000
In the wake of COVID-19, we need help keeping the business on top of its liabilities. Most notably, we would like to be able to pay our staff during the time we are closed.
Tier 1: $100,000
Pay down startup debt and address pressing expenses.
Tier 2: $150,000
Build a sufficient ‘runway” to innovate and implement strategic changes to The 1905’s operation, including, but not limited to staffing, menu, and more jazz.
Tier 3: $200,000+
Facility improvements, which may include patio cover, interior design changes allowing for more tables and chairs, new floor, acoustical treatment, sound proofing, and larger stage.
Thank you all for your continued support!
- The 1905
Organizer
Aaron Barnes
Organizer
Portland, OR
