Hermann’s update: debts paid and renovation underway

Just over a month after hitting its fundraising target, the team at Hermann’s Jazz Club is elbow-deep in repairs—both physically and organizationally.

Arts on View Society (AVS), which operates Hermann’s and the neighbouring View Street Social, gave an update this week about the club’s progress since shutting for renovations five weeks ago.

Hermann’s and View Street Social were nearly closed for good this spring after AVS realized it needed $450K to keep the venues running. But Victorians quickly came to the rescue—within a month, the full amount was raised through a fundraising campaign. With the monetary boost, the organization was finally able to address its most pressing issues.

One of the main financial barriers the club was facing was a mounting debt that had been accumulating for years. Al Smith, AVS board chair, said the club’s GST had not been filed or paid since 2022, and the board “had not received financial statements for years.”

Because of the community’s donations, this debt has been erased.

“We are pleased to report that the GST debt and other outstanding debts that placed the organization at risk have now been paid,” Smith shared in an update.

“This has allowed us to turn our attention fully toward restoring the building and rebuilding the organization that will carry Hermann’s forward.”

Renovations more challenging than expected

Smith said that critical maintenance of the club had been deferred for years. As renovations began last month, AVS soon learned that this maintenance was more complex than originally thought.

“What appeared to be a localized flooring issue turned out to be extensive deterioration beneath the floor. Once demolition began, it became clear that the entire floor in the area surrounding the bar needed to be removed and replaced.”

While removing the flooring, it was discovered that two of the original load-bearing posts had deteriorated extensively at their base, after they had “likely been supporting the building for well over a century.”

The City of Victoria, which owns the building that houses Hermann’s and View Street Social, has committed to covering the cost of the flooring issues and will assist with the cost of the structural repairs.

The contractors were able to save the club’s historic bar back, decorative iron gate features, and bar top, which will all be reinstalled after renovations are completed, ensuring that Hermann’s still looks like Hermann’s, Smith said.

Once these two issues are addressed, the next phase will focus on the structural issues of the wall between Hermann’s kitchen and View Street Social.

Improving Arts on View Society’s governance

Behind the scenes, Arts on View Society is also getting a refresh. Smith says a top priority for him is ensuring that the society never finds itself in the same financial peril again. AVS has now moved its legal affairs to a new law firm and is rebuilding the society’s membership structure. It plans to update its bylaws and “strengthen governance practices” to support the organization long term.

“This work may not be as visible as replacing floors and structural supports, but it is equally important,” said Smith. “Today, we are rebuilding that foundation financially, physically, and organizationally.”

Smith said that none of this would be possible without the support of the local community.

“Hermann’s is being saved because thousands of people chose to stand up for it.”