Downtown Austin's Cielo Nightclub to Close After 16 Years

Austin’s longest-running Latin music nightclub, Cielo, will host its final night on July 19 before closing its doors after 16 years of operation. The club, located at 505 Neches St., will welcome patrons for “one last puro pinche party” this Saturday with DJ Yei B, DJ Carcamo and DJ Fuzion.

“It’s with a heavy heart that we announce after 16 years of showcasing the best in Latin music and culture, we will be closing our doors after this weekend,” a July 15 post on the club's Instagram account read. “Thank you for being a part of the Cielo family, and for all of the love and support over the years.”

Cielo Nightclub was opened in 2009 by Jamil Boukarim and quickly gained a reputation as Austin’s premier Latin party headquarters, featuring a mix of reggaeton, banda, cumbia DJs and other Spanish-language music.

“When we opened back then, the Latin music format wasn’t as popular as it is today, and we’re proud to say we introduced that format to downtown Austin,” Elias Boukarim, who took ownership of his uncle’s club in 2011, told the Statesman on Thursday. “It’s had a really good run, but it’s time. We just feel that it’s time to come up with something new.”

Boukarim said the decision to close Cielo came after a decline in business over the last six to eight months. He said the club is just not performing as well as they would like.

“Without a doubt, your patronage supported our long journey, allowing Cielo to be a fabric of Austin’s Latin Community,” the Instagram post said. “The memories generated are endless, and so is our gratitude for your loyalty and support. All good things come to an end eventually, but what a ride it has been!”

“When we announced the news, we were very grateful and overwhelmed with the feedback that we got,” Boukarim said. “It was just a reminder of how much people love the club. Over the years we got to meet so many of our customers, and many became good friends of ours. So, it’s a sad thing. It wasn’t an easy decision.”

The club will be remembered for their beams of laser lights, pulsing sound system and disco balls that attracted droves of late-night party-hoppers. However, Boukarim said that owners have something new in the works, and Cielo teased new projects on their social media in their farewell message.

“When one chapter closes, a new one begins!” Cielo wrote on Instagram. “Stay tuned to what’s coming next.”