— After 11 years in downtown Raleigh, Deep South The Bar will close next month on New Year's Eve. Deep South Entertainment President and CEO Dave Rose announced the news Monday.

"It is with heavy hearts that we have decided to close," his statement read. "While I'm extremely sad to be closing the bar after 11 successful years, I'm excited for what the future holds for the other aspects of our company. And I'm of course excited about the future of downtown Raleigh and its music community as well."

Deep South opened in 2007 at 430 S. Dawson Street across the street from Red Hat Amphitheater. The bar is known for its outdoor patio, open mic nights and nightly shows featuring local and out-of-town artists, musicians and comedians.

The bar also participated in Raleigh's largest music festivals, including Hopscotch and IBMA's World of Bluegrass.

"I estimate Deep South The Bar hosted over 40,000 musicians in our 11 years of business," said Rose. "I cannot overstate how much I will miss the Bar being a part of the downtown Raleigh landscape, but it's time for change."

Rose cited three reasons for his decision to close Deep South -- the main being his desire to focus his company on artist and event management. Deep South Entertainment, headquartered in Raleigh, recently opened a second office in Nashville and has a third office planned.

The owner also mentioned his wife, who is currently expecting their second child.

"There are many bar owners who raise wonderful families," said Rose. "I admire them tremendously. But for me personally, I just didn't feel like bar ownership was the right move for my family and me."

Rose also announced that the bar's lease would end at the end of the year, adding, of his reasons for closing, "this one had very little impact on my decision."

In his statement, Rose thanked his wife, his staff and all musicians and guests with gratitude, echoing both his sadness about closing the bar but his excitement for ventures ahead. His full statement is available online.