Kitchener's The Boathouse has locks changed

The Boathouse, the popular music venue, restaurant and bar in the heart of Kitchener's Victoria Park is now officially closed.

City staff and a locksmith changed the locks at the venue Monday afternoonand posteda signon each doorreading "closed until further notice."

• Kitchener music venue The Boathouse closes abruptly

The City of Kitchenersays the operator,Kevin Doyle, is five months in arrears on his rent and utility bills.

The doors of the Boathouse were closedFriday afternoon, and reopened briefly for a musical performance Sunday afternoon. Doyle has not responded to requests for comment, but took to Facebook to announce the closure of the venue.

"It kills me to say goodbye to our Boathouse but I am left no choice," he said in a post.

Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr told The Morning Edition host Craig Norris on Monday that the city is "absolutely committed" to the music scene in Kitchener.

Meanwhile, Kitchener's director of economic development Rod Regiercalled the Boathouse "an iconic building."

"It's dearly loved by the community as a whole. It's a resource for the entire community," he said Friday. "We're committed to keeping or reanimating it or putting it back to work in the future."