The team behind the Ardmore Music Hall is extending its reach beyond the Philadelphia region with the acquisition of a longtime Baltimore concert venue, writes Morgan Simpson for The Philadelphia Business Journal.
This marks the company’s first expansion outside its home turf.
Rising Sun Presents Takes Over the 8×10
Ardmore-based Rising Sun Presents has acquired the 8×10 music hall. The 200-capacity venue in Baltimore’s Federal Hill neighborhood was scheduled to close at the end of June.
Rising Sun will take over ownership and management of the business while partnering with Baltimore singer-songwriter Cris Jacobs and longtime building owner Dave Rather.
Rather also owns Mother’s Grille, a bar and restaurant chain with several Greater Baltimore locations.
Managing Partner Chris Perella declined to disclose the purchase price, and the deal did not include the property itself.
The 8×10 will close under its current operators on June 27 before undergoing renovations and other improvements. It is expected to reopen in October. Regular patron Jeremy Rusen will oversee the work and later become the venue’s general manager.
A Familiar Playbook From Ardmore
Founded in 2022 by the team behind the 600-person Ardmore Music Hall, Rising Sun Presents has built its reputation around independently operated concerts, intimate rooms, and fan-focused experiences.
Perella said the company intends to preserve the character developed by longtime owners Abigail Janssens and Brian Shupe while introducing some of the operational details associated with Rising Sun’s events.
The couple listed the business for sale in October 2024 as they looked to retire after running the venue for more than two decades.
Shupe said he and Janssens believed the universe would bring forth the right owners if they waited long enough, adding that he and his wife “can’t wait to be at the club, this time in the audience.”
Personal Ties for the New Owners
The acquisition carries personal meaning. Perella has family ties to the Baltimore area and is a lifelong Orioles fan.
Jacobs also has a longstanding connection to the club. He credits the venue with helping shape his development as a musician and says he is honored to help preserve its legacy.
Inside the Historic Venue
Located at 10 E. Cross St., the roughly 4,000 square foot space spans three floors and includes two bars, a balcony, a large stage, and an artist’s lounge. The building has hosted live music since 1983.
The deal marks an important expansion for Rising Sun Presents. The independent music model developed in Ardmore moves into another historic regional venue while keeping the 8×10’s decades-old legacy alive.
Learn more about Rising Sun Presents’ expansion into the Baltimore market in The Philadelphia Business Journal.
