It was a place where some of Rotorua's best musicians and bands were made and friendships were formed.
So it's no surprise Belgian Bar owner Peter Jongenelen was, in his words, "smiling with tears in my eyes" as he spoke about his bar's closure.
It was nearly 10 years ago when Dutch-born Mr Jongenelen and his then-partner Anita Loderus arrived in Rotorua, bought a Korean restaurant on Arawa St and turned it into a bar.
Then, it was called Chambers, because of the courthouse across the road. Two years later it became the Belgian Bar, with a European ambience and Belgian beer, aimed at the over 40s.
Around this time Mr Jongenelen became one of the founders of the Bay of Plenty Blues Club and the Belgian Bar became the club's home, with music gear permanently set up on stage. "There's not anywhere like it in New Zealand. The fact it was plug and play, anyone could come in and play music," Mr Jongenelen said. "We created new bands in here. Camaraderie among musicians has been great. Individuals who normally didn't get out of the garage all of a sudden became entertainers."