Editor’s note: This story, originally published May 2, was updated at 3:46 p.m. May 3 to clarify a quote from PJ Feinstein, Strathmore’s communications director, regarding Federal Realty Investment Trust’s plans for the space occupied by AMP by Strathmore.
AMP by Strathmore, a music venue in North Bethesda’s Pike & Rose neighborhood, will close its doors June 30 after nine years of performances, according to Strathmore.
Strathmore, the longtime arts nonprofit that operates AMP, said in a Wednesday announcement that Federal Realty Investment Trust will not be renewing AMP’s lease at 11810 Grand Park Ave. when it expires June 30.
PJ Feinstein, Strathmore’s communications director, wrote Thursday in an email that Federal Realty had notified Strathmore it was “in conversation with a potential corporate tenant” as the nonprofit approached the renegotiation of its lease.
“We began preparing for that possibility earlier this year and were recently notified that [Federal Realty] was close to finalizing a deal with the new tenant,” Feinstein said. “We typically program three to four months in advance, so out of concern for our artists, we did not confirm any performances beyond our lease expiration date.”
A spokesperson for Federal Realty did not immediately respond Thursday afternoon to a request for comment.
Although AMP will be permanently closing, Strathmore is “engaged in conversations about future options, which include presenting more programs around our community and utilizing more of our campus,” she said.
In addition to AMP, Strathmore operates The Music Center at Strathmore and The Mansion, both on its North Bethesda campus off Rockville Pike.
“AMP has been a vibrant addition to our community’s arts and entertainment scene, bringing people together and enriching our cultural landscape,” Strathmore President and CEO Monica Jeffries Hazangeles said in the announcement. “Its intimate space has allowed us to develop new programming, showcase artists on the rise, and host hundreds of nonperformance events, from educational gatherings to milestone celebrations.”
Strathmore said it plans to continue programs centered at AMP at locations on its campus or elsewhere in the county. Those programs include “Strathmore’s signature Artist in Residence (AIR) program, its AMPlify initiative supporting artists as they create new work, and many collaborations with Montgomery County Public Schools,” the announcement said.
Among the final shows at AMP will be a May 10 performance by Olney-native and modern jazz drummer Allison Miller, who was one of the first artists to perform at AMP when it opened in 2015. She will be performing with her band Boom Tic Boom, according to Feinstein.
“AMP is more than just a venue,” Jeffries Hazangeles said. “It embodies Strathmore’s entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to program cultural experiences beyond the mainstream. While it is difficult to say goodbye to our space at Pike & Rose, we are excited to pursue new opportunities and carry forward the programming that made AMP special.”