Bar takes break

When you frequent a place, it becomes comfortable. Familiar.

A piece of familiarity downtown is changing. Breakaways -- a constant for musicians and those who enjoy them -- will close Saturday and reopen as a sports bar in September.

In the past week, when talking to people about Breakaways closing, I've heard the same basic sentiment: People loved Breakaways and will miss being able to go there.

Darren Burgfeld, the writer who penned the story in today's SE Live section, is also a musician. One of his bands, Tone Def All-Stars, enthusiastically called Breakaways home. When the band decided to hang it up, it played a goodbye show at the bar. When the band came out of retirement, it played a comeback show at the bar.

That story repeats itself with other bands that love the venue, which aside from holding general weekend shows, has hosted bands for the River City Music Festival and benefits for community organizations like the Cape Girardeau Roller Girls.

A friend who doesn't go out often maintains that when he goes out, he goes to Breakaways.

In such economic times as these, no one wants to see a business close. At least this one plans to reopen.

The magic in a bar is made by the people in it and, thus far, Breakaways plans to keep most of the people. The owner, Mike Hess, remains in charge. Brandon Fish intends to stay behind the bar.

While I love the idea of walking downtown to catch a game, I'm saddened by the idea of one less place for music on Main Street.