Brittney Howard of The Alabama Shakes.JPG

Brittany Howard and The Alabama Shakes played a sold-out show at Huntsville's Crossroads Music Hall on March 31, 2012. (Eric Schultz/The Huntsville Times)

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – After 17 years, the curtain has closed on Huntsville's Crossroads Music Hall.

Owner Jamie Hunter told AL.com Monday that he is abandoning his plans to re-open the popular live music venue in the Oakwood Village Shopping Center on Oakwood Avenue. Tables, chairs, bar tops, autographed playbills from past concerts and other items will be auctioned off at 1 p.m. Thursday.

Crossroads owner Jamie Hunter

"It breaks my heart," said Hunter. "There's just been a series of things happen, and it just seems like it wasn't meant to be. I ran out of steam and ran out of money."

Founded in 1997 by brothers Sanford and David McLain at the old Heart of Huntsville Mall, Crossroads' intimate setting, good acoustics and appreciative fans attracted musicians from almost every genre: The Avett Brothers, Hank Williams III, Toy Shop, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Shooter Jennings, Shawn Mullins, The Snake Doctors, Shametown, Levon Helm, Old Crow Medicine Show, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, The Alabama Shakes.

Hunter bought the club in early 2003. Four years later, he moved Crossroads to a cavernous two-story space at 115 Clinton Ave. downtown capable of hosting much larger concerts.

Hunter said the problems started with the April 27, 2011, tornado, which left Madison County without electricity for several days and cost Crossroads two weeks of lost revenue. Landlord CityScapes canceled Crossroads' lease in early 2013 for nonpayment of rent.

Hunter contends he was intentionally withholding rent payments to force CityScapes to fix plumbing and structural problems inside the club. In March 2013, his Catfish Entertainment filed for federal Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

"We did the Chapter 11 as a legal maneuver to try to hold CityScapes to the lease agreement," said Hunter.

Former Drive-By Truckers lead singer Jason Isbell played Crossroads' final concert on May 4, 2013. Several songs taped at that sold-out show were later included on Isbell's "Live From Alabama" album.

Hunter's scramble for a new home for Crossroads led him to the Oakwood Village Shopping Center near Lee High School. But just before starting an extensive remodeling job, he discovered the zoning in that area would not allow a new Class 4 lounge with music and alcohol but no food.

When a potential partnership with Bandito Burrito fell through in October, Hunter was out of options.

"This wasn't something I wanted to happen, and I feel like I've let Huntsville down," he said. "I gave it everything I had. The stress almost killed me, literally. There were just too many circumstances beyond my control."

Hunter, who has been undergoing chemotherapy for a serious illness that he did not want to discuss, said he would still like to re-open Crossroads once his health and finances improve.

In the meantime, the club's furnishings will be auctioned off at 1 p.m. Thursday at The Storage Neighbor, 315 Oakwood Ave.

"I haven't given up hope," said Hunter. "I'm just not physically able to do it at this point."