Another Struggling Midtown Venue Pins Hopes On Fundraiser

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — On the heels of two blowout fundraisers that rescued a pair of Midtown venues from likely closure, a third performance space has pinned its survival hopes on its neighbors' generosity.

Swing 46, a "jazz and supper club" on the Restaurant Row stretch of West 46th Street, is "facing extreme hardships to function," owner John Akhtar wrote in a GoFundMe.

The club opened in 1997 after previous stints as Silver Lining and Red Blazer Too. It has hosted performances by the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and the dancer Dawn Hampton, among others.

With a goal of "keeping the spirit of the 1940s vintage supper club alive in modern times," the club hosted live music each night for decades until the pandemic hit.

"The challenges and circumstances of the global pandemic threaten the viability of the club and keeping its staff employed," Akhtar wrote. "The rent and other bills need to be paid immediately and our hopes of keeping the venue open are dwindling."

The GoFundMe, which had raised $38,000 of its $150,000 goal by Wednesday afternoon, follows wildly successful, star-studded fundraisers by Birdland jazz club and the West Bank Cafe in Hell's Kitchen.

Seeking to capture that same magic, Swing 46 will host a 12-hour fundraiser from noon to midnight on March 14, viewable on YouTube and Facebook Live.

"We are determined to keep our beloved Swing 46 open and functioning, to continue to provide live music, dining and dancing to the New York City and international community," Akhtar wrote.