- After 15 years, Richard and Retha Tait are transitioning from daily operations at Alma Café, exploring options like investment, partnership, or leasing to keep the live music venue alive.
- Alma Café has been a cornerstone of Cape Town’s live music scene, with a loyal community built over the years, despite challenges like the pandemic.
- The Taits and their son Jonathan aim to preserve the venue’s legacy, hoping to maintain it as a dedicated live music hub rather than repurpose it.
Alma Café, a beloved live music venue and community hub in Rosebank, is preparing for a major transition as owners Richard and Retha Tait step away from daily operations.
After 15 years of curating an intimate space for live music lovers, they are seeking new ways to keep the venue alive while lightening their own workload.
A soft deadline has been set for mid-year, marking the end of an era for the establishment that has been a cornerstone of the city’s music scene.
From its humble beginnings in 2009 to its peak years between 2013 and 2018, Alma Café overcame challenges including the Covid-19 pandemic and emerged stronger, even recording its best year of business last year.
The venue has been fueled by the unrelenting passion and work ethic of its owners, who turned it into a haven for musicians and audiences alike. Despite their deep love for the business, Richard and Retha acknowledge that maintaining such an operation requires a heavy commitment and are now ready to pass the baton.
Their son Jonathan Tait, who has played a key role in running the establishment, acknowledges the weight of this decision. “My parents’ dedication has made Alma Café what it is today, a space where good music, good food and good people come together. There is very few dedicated live music venues left in Cape Town and losing another would be a significant blow.”
The owners are exploring several options to keep the space alive, including investment or partnership to expand business operations, outright rental of the venue, leasing the commercial property for hospitality use, or selling it as a going concern. Their hope is to maintain the space as a dedicated live music venue rather than see it repurposed entirely.
Reflecting on the years spent building Alma Café, Retha shares the emotional weight of letting go. “We always liked the idea of having a shop when we started, and we sold everything at first. Over time, the café became a familiar place for the community, where regulars turned into lifelong friends. Letting go is incredibly hard, but at some point, we have to. I will miss it severely I’ll probably end up rescuing dogs, cats, or people just to keep busy”
For Cape Town’s live music enthusiasts, Alma Café represents something irreplaceable. Over the years, it has built a reputation not only as a venue but as a cultural institution. “The greater Cape Town community has supported what we do, and the locals embraced our idea and ethics around live music,” says Jonathan. “That’s what made Alma Café special.”
Those interested in discussing the future of Alma Café or exploring possibilities for involvement are encouraged to reach out via email at jono@almacafe.co.za. As the next chapter begins to unfold, one thing remains clear Alma Café has left an indelible mark on Cape Town’s music scene, and its legacy is worth preserving.
