First Avenue

701 N 1st Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403, USA

Address:	701 N 1st Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403, USA
Phone:	+1 612-338-8388
Site:	first-avenue.com
Rating:	4.5

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 5

Jason Heinen

Terrible customer service. None actually. We paid for tickets, which we had in hand, and were denied entry because one of us didnt have the "proper ID" to get in the door. I actually had 2 state-issued IDs on me with my birthday, which is what their website lists under FAQ as appropriate forms of ID to gain entrance to their precious club. The moronic door man claimed that the law was that the ID had to be a photo ID, so the laws the law apparently. No picture ID, no entry. Whaaaat!? I didnt have my drivers license on me because I had just renewed it, so only had the yellow paper ID. Not good enough. Even though that policy is new to me, I can take the blame for the oversight. I forgot my discarded, invalid drivers license at home. (I will also add that this policy is nowhere to be found on their website). Why not just go home and fetch it? Normally that would make perfect sense, but we live almost an hour away, so needless to say that wasnt in the cards. Youd expect some level of understanding from people in the service industry for an oversight like this, right? WRONG. So, they showed no understanding, wouldnt let us in, but at least I should be granted a refund, right? NOT EVEN A REFUND WAS OFFERED!!! AND WHEN I ASKED FOR ONE AND TO SPEAK TO THE MANAGER THE TROLL OF A DOOR MAN REFUSED TO LET ME SPEAK WITH HIS SUPERVISOR AND ACCUSED ME OF HAVING AN ATTITUDE TOWARDS HIM. AVOID THIS CLUB AT ALL COST UNLESS THEY REPRIMAND OR TEACH THE TOOL WHO TAKES THE TICKETS HOW TO DO HIS JOB. I WILL BE SURE TO POST ANY AND ALL APPLICABLE UPDATES TO THIS REVIEW. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ MANAGEMENT IS STILL REFUSING TO ISSUE A REFUND OR AN APOLOGY! UPDATE - Management responded with a rude email stating that I didnt have the correct identification to enter. Would the manager know that for certain when his communication with the moronic door man consisted only of grunts and vague gibberish over a radio? He did not bother to look at any of my IDs at the venue. His email response also included a link to the FAQ page of their website where their rules were buried where no one could find them. Here they are: WILL I NEED AN ID TO ATTEND AN EVENT AT FIRST AVENUE? WHAT FORMS OF ID ARE VALID? Yes, you will need an ID to enter the venue during 18+ and 21+ events, and also to claim will call tickets. Acceptable forms of ID are: Valid, State-issued, Drivers License (not clipped) Valid Passport Valid, State-issued, Identification Card Valid Learners Permit If you dont have one of the above, acceptable combinations of IDs: Valid Yellow Papers from the DMV and a Clipped/Invalidated State ID/License/Permit So, I had on my person 2 state-issued ID cards, but because neither of them had a photograph, I was denied entry. Tell me where in these rules does it state that you need a PHOTO ID?!?! And again, if this is a state law, it is a terrible one. I dont drink, so why do I need to verify that I am 21? Or even 18 for that matter!? I have gray in my beard. Youd think that would be proof enough that I am over 18. This is totally a law about alcohol. If youre under 21, they put a wristband on you so you cant order at the bar. The lack of common sense to refuse a paying customer to enter, with the simple solution that he/she just not be given a wristband, is mind-boggling. But like I said, youre always entitled to a refund. Oh wait. NOPE.

Anna Hendrickson

If its music were talking, my heart will always belong to Minneapolis. There is a part of me that is always seventeen and bobbing my head along to the band that the coolest girl at my school was in, or getting pummeled in the moshpit at the Doomtree Blowout. I grew up to Doomtree, to Dessa, to Trampled By Turtles, Communist Daughter, Atmosphere, Dark Dark Dark. The Hold Steady said that Twin Cities kisses "sound like clicks and hisses," which doesnt really mean anything but feels right anyway. I think I click and hiss wherever I go, rattling around this earth like a little rodent or reptile. Squirreling away people and places. Sometimes I wish everything were closer. Minneapolis could be next to Providence, next to Maine and North Carolina and California, all neighbors to Seattle and San Jose. I could keep everyone in my pocket that way. There wouldnt be any little green plants growing inside of me anymore. There is a kind of beauty to the scattering, and to coming together again. For Christmas in Wisconsin, or Thanksgiving at Myrtle Beach, or just dinner with friends and a walk through Patriots Court. I think I like having people in all these corners.

Josh Becknell

4 stars with a bit of hesitation. Been going here since I was a teen in the early 90s, and remember a much different venue. While the new First Ave (since re-opening) seems cleaner, shinier, and a little more streamlined than its previous incarnation, it has simply lost the edge. But, maybe thats the point. This is downtown Milquetoast-apolis. If you want edgy stuff, you go to Triple Rock, Turf Club, Hexagon, or Cabooze now. Or, a basement show. (Remember those?) First Ave is for nostalgia. Alt-pop. You Tube sensations. Pandora hit masters. And, thats just the world we live in now. Album sales arent the thermometer anymore. Also keep in mind that Minnesota still is "fly-over country", as someone succinctly put it a few years ago. Our awkward Minnesota nice and obsession with local will always reign in place of a cutting edge music scene. Remember when Janes Addiction played the 7th St. Entry? And Nirvana? You missed out. Well, if you have nothing but bad memories of the place, take comfort: the acoustics do still suck, and the mediocre drinks have typical downtown price tags. If youre drunk here now, its cause you can afford to be!

Lucas Zeidner

Despite being a historical landmark for music in the Twin Cities, First Avenue is behind the times. In the past month I have seen at least two incidents of mistreatment by male staffers of female/female-identifying patrons. First, they confiscated the ID of a woman who was of legal drinking age because the bouncer "didnt believe she was 21". The staff then tried to get the womans friend to go on a date with a staffer to get the ID back. This is of course illegal and constitutes as theft and blackmail. Last night a transgender female-identifying customer attempted to use the womens bathroom, and was blocked by staff, who insisted that a transwoman had no right to use her preferred choice of bathroom. This is Minneapolis, we have a giant Pride festival every year. This should not be any issue for anyone, and to see this behavior perpetuated by members of the arts community is unbelievable. All that being said: BOYCOTT FIRST AVE. AND ALL ASSOCIATED VENUES! FIRST AVE DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY AND RESPECT OF ITS PATRONS!

Ashley Miller

I cannot stand first ave. Its not the shows. Its not the venue. Its not even the workers. ITS THE PEOPLE. Ok, so maybe if youre some basic person with a slight taste in indie music, youd think this place was the bomb dot com, but I have been to this venue on account for three different occasions within a two month period and I will never go back again. Each time I thought it would get better; it didnt. The crowd just sucks. Lets talk about that. Theyre pushy and its hard to see behind all the girls boyfriends. On top of that, everyone is plain ugly. Not only in appearance but in style and manner. Plus, I got some really racist/sexist comments thrown my way. I dont know what it is. I dont know why they draw the worst people, but they do. This place sucks because they dont attract a good crowd. Seriously, dont even waste your time. I know that your favorite band is playing here but it isnt worth it. Even if youre totally fd up.