Empire Control Room Owner Locked Out of Venue by Landlord for “Nonpayment of Rent”

Stephen Sternschein was locked out of one half of his venue, Empire Control Room, earlier this month. 

On Friday, April 3, landlord 606 Holdings LLC fastened a lock to a side gate of the 606 E. Seventh venue, and wrote in a notice to Sternschein’s Heard Entertainment Texas LLC that the venue owner “will not be provided a new key until all past due rents are paid in full.” William Spaw III, better known as Trey Spaw, signed the notice as the “landlord’s representative.” 

Spaw’s name was not on a slightly different letter posted on Monday, April 6. In that notice, which remains posted on the Control Room side gate and now on its front door, Spaw’s LLC, Treysian, is listed as the Manager of the landlord’s 606 Holdings LLC. 

Spaw, who also owns Side Bar, opened Empire with Sternschein and Mike and Dave Machinist in 2013. Spaw and Sternschein declined to comment on the lockout due to the legal proceedings surrounding the matter. 

Empire’s online calendar has been blank for most of the month, but it advertises concerts on April 16, 17, and 18: traveling karaoke band Emo Night Karaoke on Thursday; New Orleans rapper Jay Electronica on Friday; and hip-hop collective Nappy Roots on Friday. Clockwork Music Inc., who booked Jay Electronica’s performance, confirmed to the Chronicle that his show will continue in the Garage, the adjoining Empire venue at 604 E. Seventh. Representatives for Emo Night Karaoke and Nappy Roots did not respond to requests for comment. 

Sternschein confirmed to the Chronicle on April 15 that this week’s shows will go on in the Garage. 

This month’s lockout follows ongoing financial issues for the Red River venue owner. As detailed in a January Chronicle cover story, Empire Control Room & Garage employees and colleagues at other Sternschein-helmed enterprises have accused Sternschein’s companies of missed paychecks and mismanagement. 

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