It’s a story Los Angeles has heard too many times lately. A beloved landmark, a keeper of countless memories, announces it’s taking a final bow. On July 14, 2025, the historic Mayan Theatre in downtown L.A. shared the news that it would be closing its doors for good at the end of September of that year, ending a spectacular 35-year run as one of the city’s most iconic nightclubs and concert venues.
Photo courtesy of Mayan DTLA
For almost a century now, the Mayan has been more than just a building; it’s been a cultural venue for entertainment. When it opened in 1927, it was a breathtaking example of Mayan Revival architecture. Its ornate facade of pre-Columbian gods and serpents was designed by artist Francisco Cornejo, creating what felt like a sacred temple dedicated to entertainment. It started with hosting grand Gershwin musicals, adapted to serve the community with government-funded plays during the Great Depression, and became a vital stage for Latino and Black performers, including a young Dorothy Dandridge.
Photo courtesy of Mayan DTLA
Even its most controversial period as a pornographic theatre in the 1970s and 1980s played a crucial role in its story. It provided the funds that saved the architectural gem from demolition when so many other grand theatres fell. Then, in 1990, it was reborn. For the last 35 years, its dance floors have been a rite of passage for Angelenos. It’s where people fell in love during salsa nights, saw legendary acts like Daft Punk and Jack White, and felt spirit of rebellion with spirited events hosting everything from Bondage Balls to the excitement of Mexican Wrestling and Burlesque of LUCHA VAVOOM.
So, why is it closing now? In a statement by the Mayan’s president, Sammy Chao, pointed to an “unrelenting barrage of adversity.” It’s a perfect storm that many small businesses know too well, consisting of the lingering fallout from the pandemic, soaring inflation and operational costs, and a shift in how people spend their nights out. As for the building’s future, no plans have been announced, leaving a cloud of uncertainty over the designated Historic-Cultural theatre.
Photo courtesy of Mayan DTLA
The news announced on the theatre’s Instagram page has been met with a wave of collective grief. “It breaks my heart,” said Ric Salinas of the comedy group Culture Clash, which filmed its TV show at the Mayan. Over on TikTok in the comments, the sentiment is the same: “Salsa night at the Mayan theatre in the 90s was the bomb! Best times ever!” one person recalled. Another wrote simply, “They’re erasing LA’s history.” It’s a feeling that this closure isn’t just about one venue but about the soul of downtown, which seems to be losing its most cherished institutions one by one.
Photo courtesy of Mayan DTLA
Fortunately, the spirit continues to burn in the final months. The theatre has been lined up with a series of events: hosting indie artist EKKSTACY, who brings his ‘Forever’ tour to the stage on Sunday, July 27; Lucha VaVOOM, which returns for a final spectacle on Friday, August 22, with “LUCHA VAVOOM DE LA LIZ!”; and Cold Waves XIII, which arrives on September 12, featuring industrial legends Nitzer Ebb and Front Line Assembly billed as the last major concert to echo through the Mayan’s sacred walls.
Photo courtesy of Mayan DTLA
Before the final curtain falls, the Mayan is inviting the city for one last celebration. The management is hosting weekly Saturday night dance parties until September 19, 2025, a final chance to dance under the gaze of the theatre’s stone gods and make one more memory. It’s a bittersweet farewell to a place that has meant so much to so many, a final dance in a temple of L.A. history. www.themayan.com
