It's a blue day for patrons of the Blue Moose Tap House as the local music joint enters its waning weeks.

The bar and music venue that has inhabited 211 Iowa Avenue for 10 years in what had formerly been a venue called The Industry. Now, as the Blue Moose closes in on a decade of existence, its lease has ended and there are no plans to continue or revive it elsewhere.

"It’s a big building to fill and there’s a couple live music venues in the area that do a good job,” said Nick Miller, an owner of the bar since 2015. "Gabe's does a good job, The Englert brings some big acts to the community and The Mill's grinding along. There’s a lot of competition and we’re choosing not to renew."

The tap house still has some life in it yet. According to Miller, the venue won't close its doors permanently until next month, most likely the weekend of Sept. 21.

"We’re now working with local promoters and working with some resident DJs to put on some shows," said Miller. "At some point, we’re going to pick a weekend that’ll be our last, it’ll be a big concert and we'll go out with a bang.”

Part of Miller's vision for the end is to have one more event in the Free Bass series. Having been around practically as long as the Blue Moose itself, the series has been a Saturday night staple at the venue. Miller hopes to fly out the series's founder, Kage, and have him perform a final show under the Blue Moose roof.

With the business closing it's doors though, it will free Miller up to dedicate more attention to the other two Iowa City bars he owns: DC's and The Field House.

“We just have some upgrades planned for the buildings," said Miller. "Improve our dance floor lighting at The Field House and our sound system over there too.”

Current building owner Tracy Barkalow with Big Ten Property Management acquired the building earlier this year. At that point, the Blue Moose team had already decided they wouldn't renew their lease. With a vacancy inevitable, Barkalow has been in talks with a number of people in hopes of filling the space by the beginning of October.

“Our goal is to kind of get a mix of a restaurant/bar concept open till 2 a.m.," Barkalow said. "Something similar to Joe’s Place or the 30 Hop concept with a rooftop beer garden. We’ve talked to several people, no one’s signed the lease yet.”

Barkalow suspects that another business could open in the location as early as January or February of 2020, if not sooner.

There are still shows booked for the Blue Moose in the coming month and still plans in progress for a blow out party when a final day is cemented. Whatever the future holds for 211 Iowa Avenue, Miller is confident the building, a large space with two stages, will play host to another music venue of some sort.

“I know that before The Industry it was a pool hall called the Q Bar, and then before that it was another bar called the Copper Dollar," said Miller. "It’s always been a bar/live music venue of some sort, so I’m sure it’ll stay that way.”

Isaac Hamlet covers arts, entertainment and culture at the Press-Citizen. Reach him at ihamlet@press-citizen.com or (319)-688-4247, follow him on Twitter @IsaacHamlet