An outpouring of support and memories came in after news broke that The Cave – the music venue which had spawned many music careers over 50 years in Chapel Hill – would be closing. But amidst those memories, there was work going on behind the scenes to keep The Cave open.

Musician Melissa Swingle, who also used to bartend at The Cave, told WCHL Monday morning that she, along with Autumn Spencer, had reached an agreement with the current ownership of The Cave and the landlord to reopen the music venue.

Swingle said that the new ownership group was working to obtain a liquor license and get The Cave back up and running as quickly as possible.

“We are planning on having a Grand Reopening or a big party to say, ‘The Cave is not dead’ at the end of June,” Swingle said.

Several longtime Franklin Street establishments had recently announced they would be closing in Chapel Hill. The Cave now appears to have been revived. And Chapel Hill Restaurant Group recently announced that after the “retiring” of Spanky’s, a new restaurant named Lula’s would be opening at the corner of Franklin and Columbia streets serving Southern food staples.

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