The basement at 2505 1st Ave. that went dark in December is coming back as a 400-person concert hall.

Bottlerocket Social Hall, a Pittsburgh bar and event space, announced Monday, Aug. 31, that it will merge the former Madame Lou's and Here-After into a single venue beneath The Crocodile in Belltown. The space is targeting a March 2027 opening, according to MyNorthwest.

"Figuring out the future for the Croc's basement has been our top priority since day one, and it's something we wanted to make sure we got absolutely right," Chris Copen, Bottlerocket founder and managing director of The Crocodile, said in a statement.

Madame Lou's, a 300-capacity live music room, and Here-After, a 100-seat comedy club and theater, both closed in December 2025. The Crocodile cited decreasing attendance, declining food and drink sales and skyrocketing operating costs as factors.

The combined Bottlerocket space will hold 400 standing for concerts and more than 200 for seated shows. Plans call for tiered viewing areas, an expanded bar and what the announcement described as "an intimate, old-school interior."

In Pittsburgh, Bottlerocket is known for vintage decor, a 150-inch projector screen and two spinning disco balls. Programming in Seattle will draw on that playbook: Elvis Bingo nights, Bario Kart gaming events and a membership club offering free monthly shows and drink discounts.

The Crocodile team said it has already contacted performers and event organizers whose shows had long-term homes in the old basement venues, with the goal of welcoming them back.

The announcement follows a turbulent stretch for The Crocodile, one of Seattle's most recognized music venues since Graham Graham opened it in 1991. The club accumulated more than $1.6 million in debt after expanding to its current First Avenue location in late 2021, the Yakima Herald reported.

The Crocodile entered receivership in January 2026. The Comedy Tent ownership group, led by talent manager Jimmy Miller and Mike McAvoy, the former CEO of The Onion, completed the purchase in June 2026.

That deal preserved more than 100 jobs, KOMO News reported. The Crocodile's main 750-capacity room, The Society bar and Hotel Crocodile continued operating through the transition.

General Manager Shaina Foley said in June, when the sale was announced, that the new owners had the resources and vision to reinvigorate the venue and bring the lower floor back to life. The Comedy Tent also owns Upright Citizens Brigade and film and TV company Abso Lutely Productions.

The new Bottlerocket venue plans to expand on Here-After's comedy programming while honoring Madame Lou's music legacy. No specific booking announcements or construction permits have been disclosed.