Say your farewells to Route 196

As the pandemic continues to plague our lives, businesses struggle to survive and many that rely on heavy volumes of patrons have closed down―from beloved cafes to bars that equally defined our youth. And yesterday, another iconic bar and gig venue has reached the end of the road. 

On Aug. 23, Sunday, Route 196 posted across all their social media accounts that they’re closing their doors after 15 years.

“We may be walking towards a different direction for now, but we wanted to make sure you had something to always remind you of our crazy ride together, the things we learned, the noise we made, the rules we broke, and the friends we picked up along the way,” they said.

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Fondly called “Route” by patrons, this Katipunan bar was a vital part of the local music scene and served as a home to many artists who wanted nothing more than to share their craft with a community that appreciates indie music.

Some of our fave local acts even paid tribute to Route.

As a sort of memento to its patrons, Route 196 will be selling a farewell t-shirt designed by Rob Cham. You can cop the shirt on Manila Takeout’s website for P850.

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Photos by Rogin Losa