Trout Daniel & Associates (TD&A) has confirmed the sale of Baltimore’s 8 x 10 live music venue, marking a new chapter for the long-running club. The transaction includes both the real estate and the operating business, with the combined sale price remaining undisclosed.
Long-time property owner Dave Rather, together with club operators Brian Shupe and Abigail Janssens, coordinated the transfer of their respective interests in the asset and business to Pennsylvania-based Rising Sun Presents. Rising Sun Presents is a live music entertainment group led by industry professional Chris Perella, and the acquisition gives the firm a foothold in Baltimore’s live music scene. Rather, who has held the property for many years, is not exiting entirely; instead, he is rolling forward in the new ownership structure.
Post-closing, Rather is partnering with Rising Sun Presents and Baltimore singer-songwriter Cris Jacobs to reposition and upgrade the venue. The group plans a program of interior renovations and other improvements, with work scheduled for completion by October. The refreshed venue is expected to reopen under the new partnership once upgrades are finished, with ownership indicating that a grand reopening date and a slate of upcoming shows will be announced in the near future.
Jacobs described the opportunity to help carry the venue’s legacy forward alongside the new ownership group as an honor, underscoring the importance of the 8 x 10 within Baltimore’s live music community. While specific plans for programming were not disclosed, the involvement of a regional music promoter and a local artist suggests that live performances will remain central to the business plan.
The property and business were exclusively listed, marketed and brokered by TD&A. The assignment was led by Principal Steven Cornblatt and Associate Coleman Tirone, who oversaw the marketing process and transaction execution. Their role encompassed bringing the asset to market, positioning it for prospective buyers and ultimately brokering the sale to Rising Sun Presents. No additional transaction details, such as financing structure, capitalization or future expansion plans, were provided.
With the sale now closed and upgrades underway, the 8 x 10 is poised to transition from long-term local ownership and operations to a new, multi-party partnership structure. The deal demonstrates ongoing interest in established, experiential hospitality and entertainment assets, even as financial terms and detailed performance metrics remain private.
