A Worcester institution that has helped launch bands, host generations of musicians and provide a home for live music for decades will soon play its final encore.
For decades, musicians who walked through the doors of Greendale’s Pub hoping for a chance to perform often heard the same response from owner Kenny Nicolas:
“You’re hired!”
The phrase became a signature of the longtime Worcester venue owner, whose willingness to give new and established performers alike a chance helped make Greendale’s a fixture of the city’s music scene.
Now Nicolas has announced he will retire and close Greendale’s on July 1, ending a nearly 40-year chapter at the neighborhood venue after 38 years there, including 27 as owner.
“After 38 years working at Greendale’s and 27 of those years owning it I have decided it is time to retire,” Nicolas wrote in a social media post announcing the decision. “It was a hard decision to make. It’s been a big part of my life for a long time.”
Nicolas thanked the staff, musicians and customers who helped make Greendale’s a fixture in Worcester’s music scene.
“I first want to thank my staff past and present. They have been the heart and soul of Greendale’s from day one,” he wrote. “I want to thank all the bands who played at Greendale’s through the years. We had some great entertainment there.”
He also expressed gratitude to the venue’s longtime patrons.
“Last but not least I want to thank all of my customers we had through the years could never of done it without you,” Nicolas wrote. “I made a lot of great friends there over the years.”
The announcement continues to draw an outpouring of tributes from musicians, venue owners and patrons who described Greendale’s as one of Worcester’s most welcoming places to perform.
For many local bands, Greendale’s was where they got their start. The venue became known for welcoming first-time performers alongside established acts and fostering a supportive environment for musicians.
Greendale’s also became a gathering place for regular jam sessions and open-stage style events. Among the most prominent was Mike G’s Sunday Jam, which has operated at the venue since 2018.
“Kenneth Nicolas said ‘you’re hired’ and that was it!” musician Mike Gianfriddo recalled in a social media post reflecting on the jam’s beginnings. Gianfriddo announced that the final two Sunday jams at Greendale’s will take place June 21 and June 28 before moving to a new location.
Members of the local music community repeatedly pointed to Nicolas’ reputation for supporting musicians and treating performers fairly.
“It has been a strange day,” wrote Kurt Ramm of the band No Alibi. “Kenny is one of the true class guys in the business, it became our home away from home.”
Ramm said the band first played Greendale’s in 2004 and “never looked back.”
“Thank you for every Greendales memory!” he wrote.
The closing also drew attention from fellow venue operators. Victoria Mariano, owner of Electric Haze, described Greendale’s as “a Worcester staple for live music for a long time” and noted the challenges facing small music venues, including rising costs and declining attendance.
The final night of business is scheduled for July 1. Worcester band Auntie Trainwreck will perform what is being promoted as the venue’s closing show.
“It’s been an honor and a pleasure for us to play at Greendale’s for the past 17 1/2 years,” the band wrote in announcing the performance. The group encouraged fans to “show Kenny some love for always supporting live music and being a fantastic venue owner.”
For Nicolas, the decision was bittersweet but one he said was ultimately time to make.
“It was one of the hardest things I ever had to do but it’s time,” he wrote. “Thank you all for everything.”
