🎧 ‘Bean voyage:’ Burlington bids farewell to Radio Bean

Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship

BURLINGTON — Radio Bean, the popular music venue and bar in Burlington, closed last week after more than 25 years. Owner Lee Anderson announced the closure on social media, citing financial challenges.

Kelly McNamara of the University of Vermont Community News Service talked with regulars on Sunday, Sept. 6 at one of the club’s last events.

Tom Beale: I moved to Burlington when Lee opened the Radio Bean, so I’ve been here and seen it from the inception. It really became this place where you could just always walk in here and find a familiar face or a friendly face. And Lee would always talk about how the stage — it used to be a single step up to go on the stage, and he really liked the symbolism of, you just have to take that one step, you know? Like, you got to like, put yourself up there.

Erik Andrus: Radio Bean, it’s sort of like a cornerstone of my coming to Vermont, and meeting my wife, and becoming part of the community.

Phinneus Sonin: It’s this, like, rich soil, rich, fertile soil for arts and creativity.

Tim Stickle: I have a daughter who’s now in her 30s who’s an executive in the music business in Los Angeles, and she kind of grew up here, playing and booking music at the Radio Bean, and then went on to, you know, the big time in L.A.

Megan Humphrey: I want to thank everybody who made this venue and community possible, because it’s not just the owners, but it’s also been the staff here, and neighbors, and the community, and all the musicians.

Beale: For me, Burlington and the Radio Bean are almost fused in my mind as to what they are.

Andrus: Nothing lasts forever. We’re sad to see it go.

Paddy Reagan: Communities are lucky to have spaces like this, and though it’s not going to be existing in the state that we’re used to it in, it’ll be exciting to see what follows.