This intimate live music venue. located at 10 East Cross Street in Baltimore’s Federal Hill Entertainment District hits the market for sale or lease for the first time in 25 years. The 8 X 10 has long been a must-stop for national touring acts on their rise to stardom. Located in the heart of the busy entertainment district, the venue has hosted some of the biggest names in music, including Billy Joel, Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dave Matthews Band, Phish, Jimmy Cliff, Lenny Kravitz, Bo Diddley, and Chuck Berry. Derek Trucks, The Disco Biscuits, Gary Clark, Jr. Trombone Shorty, and Snarky Puppy are among countless other nationally recognized artists who have played the popular venue.
The showcase space offers a capacity of several hundred guests across two floors, including a balcony with excellent sightlines throughout. Approximately 25 years ago, the building was completely rebuilt—preserving only one original wall—allowing for a thoughtful, purpose-built design. Highlights include a spring-loaded dance floor, two green rooms with a shower, and a four-level layout with restrooms in the basement and an ADA-accessible bathroom on the first floor.
The venue is equipped with a Meyer PA system, widely praised by touring musicians, many of whom consider it one of the best-sounding rooms on the East Coast.
After more than 20 years of ownership, hosting an average of 230 shows annually, the current owners Brian Shupe and Abigail Janssens are retiring and offering their iconic music venue business for sale for the first time in decades. At the same time, the property owner has listed the property for sale and for lease; the property has the versatility to accommodate a wide array of concepts from a dance club to a jazz or comedy club with food service.
Per Shupe, “We came to the business as music lovers first and foremost. Owning The 8×10 let us lead a lifestyle grounded in creativity and community and became our life’s work.”. Their current goal is to sell their venue business to someone who shares their passion and the vision to keep live music alive and thriving for years to come in historic Federal Hill.
Contact Steven Cornblatt with Trout Daniel & Associates for additional information at
(410) 435-4004 or www.troutdaniel.com or email scornblatt@troutdaniel.com.
About Trout Daniel & Associates
Trout Daniel & Associates is a full-service commercial real estate brokerage serving businesses throughout the mid-Atlantic and beyond. The firm takes a highly-customizable approach to providing a full range of commercial real estate services, including brokerage, development, consulting and management to the retail, office, industrial, multi-family and investment market segments.