The Rapunzel’s fairy tale is coming to a close.

Once upon a time, there were no music venues in Nelson County. There were no coffee shops. There were very few public places for people to gather, other than a couple of restaurants with bars. The story of Rapunzel’s Coffee & Books began in the late 90s with a couple of social gatherings in an empty space, featuring nothing more than a pot of coffee and a few friends who sat down and played music together. Those gatherings, driven by word of mouth alone, were standing-room-only events. Those gatherings proved how hungry we were for a sense of connection and entertainment in our rural county and set us on a quest to meet that need.

The pot of coffee became an espresso machine. The empty space became a coffee shop and a bookstore. The group of friends jamming together became thousands of performances, countless open mics and open jams on a stage that hosted every kind of music and performance art. Our quest found its true mission in the creation of a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a performance space and training ground for up-and-coming artists.

We’ve been on this quest for 24 years, and during that time we’ve seen people meet at Rapunzel’s, get married, and bring their children back. We’ve seen kids who performed on our stage for the very first time go on to successful music careers. We’ve even seen one of those kids who grew up here take on the quest of keeping Rapunzel’s going. (Thank you, Katherine!)

Rapunzel’s has met the needs of so many people for so long, but the one thing it has never been able to provide is a sustainable paycheck for its management. It has always been a labor of love. During our time here, the social landscape of Nelson County has changed. With the growth of a tourism-based economy feeding live music at countless wineries, breweries and gathering spots, there is no longer quite the same need that existed when we opened our doors in December 2001. It’s time for all of us to move on to our Happily Ever After.

Rapunzel’s last show—our “Happily Ever After” party—will be Saturday, April 25. Please join us in celebrating the conclusion of our epic fairy tale with the Quintessential Quartet and the Dwight Spencer Trio. And if you can’t make it to the show, please share your Rapunzel’s story in the comments, and be with us in spirit.

With love and gratitude,

The Taylor family, Katherine Turner, and the Rapunzel’s Board of Directors