Bar 107 isn’t closing, for now. #OccupyBar107 begins

Bar 107, the downtown L.A. dive bar known for its cheap well drinks, free pizza and red walls decorated with taxidermied animal heads, will remain open.

The bar, opened by Vee Delgadillo in 2005 in the Barclay Hotel building, has been operating on a month-to-month lease. Delgadillo was given a 90-day notice to leave by building owner Victor Vasquez. Sunday night was supposed to be the bar’s last night.

But instead of saying goodbye, Hicksville Trailer Palace owner and Bar 107 resident DJ Morgan Higby Night gave a speech, essentially starting a #OccupyBar107 movement.

“The decision was made earlier today that we are not leaving 107 4th Street,” Night said. “We will remain open and continue to pay rent. If the landlord doesn’t want to give us a new lease, he can take us to court.”

Night went on to say the bar will remain open until the state marshal shows up and essentially kicks them out.

“It’s been an honor to feed your addiction and bad decisions over the past 10 years,” Night said. “Those years have brought a lot of change to the streets of downtown Los Angeles and the Los Angeles bar scene ... with it came blazers instead of T-shirts and mixologists instead of bartenders.”

Night also started #OccupyBar107.

Delgadillo, who also owns the Down and Out at the Alexandria Hotel, is a partner at Two Bits Market on 5th Street and owns the New Orleans-themed bar and restaurant the Little Easy, also on 5th Street. She recently told LAist.com it could take more than a year to relocate the bar.

So Bar 107 will remain open for now, with its happy hour specials and free pizza.

Meanwhile, #OccupyBar107 is gaining momentum on social media, with more than 20 tweets.

Nothing seems that bad when you’re staring down a full martini glass. Follow me on Twitter @Jenn_Harris_

Times staff writer Jessica Gelt contributed to this report.