Body
WHEREAS, In June 2000, at the age of 21 a young ambitions entrepreneur, Justin Strong opened a live performance venue in the heart of East Liberty, a neighborhood with a bad reputation as a result of gang violence in the 1990s. The Taylor Allderdice High School graduate saw something in the neighborhood many developers did not.
WHEREAS, Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Strong attended the University of Pittsburgh and was known for throwing parties. He took the concept which started out in his Oakland apartment and created The Shadow Lounge; and,
WHEREAS, The venue drew an eclectic following, promoting a wide range of music acts including, rappers, violinists, fiddlers, and spoken-word performers. The non-smoking venue became instrumental in helping put Pittsburgh's music scene on the map. The Shadow Lounge has played a role in the early careers of Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller; and,
WHEREAS, After 12 years Mr. Strong will be closing Shadow Lounge. He is excited to raise money and open a larger venue in the future. He will also continue to maintain the operation of Ava and Blue Room; and,
Title
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby commend Justin Strong for his hard work and service to the community; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Tuesday, April 2, 2013, to be "The Shadow Lounge Day" in the City of Pittsburgh.