Downtown Update: Firestone Sadness

Anyone who has been around Orlando's music scene for any length of time will recognize this sign, even without any words on it.

Most recently it was known as Venue 578.

But for decades it was known as Firestone Live or The Club at Firestone.

But the construction that was to turn it into an entertainment complex known as Vanguard appears to have come to a standstill!

This is what it looked like inside when the Blog visited last December. Link.

But the gutting ended and from my observation it's been sitting idle like this for months.

Firestone sadness.

Around back in Firestone's parking lot, a heavily renovated Brink reopened in May as Blackstar.

While in the adjoining building, sister club Odd Jobs opened. 

 Both Blackstar and Odd Jobs abruptly closed at the end of June but reopened last night as Club Vision, reportedly under new ownership.

What was Blackstar looked ready to go during my visit yesterday afternoon while the part that was Odd Jobs smelled like fresh-cut wood and was still under renovations. Orlando Weekly reports that the Vanguard project is still moving forward.  During my visit yesterday, there were no visible indications that was the case so we'll continue to monitor and keep you updated on progress. UPDATE: A Blog source says that a piece of construction equipment struck a support pole inside Vanguard.  Construction supposedly has come to a halt while the extent of the damage and ramifications are ascertained.