Despite woes of a planned closure, The Depot will survive this semester.

According to Alison Victor, The Depot manager and events coordinator, the entertainment venue was going to be closed and used as storage space for the construction of a new soul food restaurant that will be between The Pub and The Depot.

But last week, Guy Dalpe, the managing director at Cesar Chavez Student Center informed Victor that The Depot would remain open this semester because construction slowed down.

“I’m glad that they decided to keep it open and it is available to use,” said Victor.

Victor said work on the new restaurant has temporarily stopped because of escalating costs, in particular, the pricey drilling of a new ventilation system for the restaurant’s kitchen.

“I’m glad that they decided to keep it open and it is available to use,” said Victor.

Open since 1975 and located in the lower conference level next to The Pub, The Depot is an entertainment venue that provides live bands, movie nights and Monday Night Football events that are funded by students’ fees.

In the past, The Depot has featured performers like a pre-“Mork and Mindy” Robin Williams, as well as popular indie bands such as The Rapture.

Many students expressed frustration with the lack of support from students and the Student Center Governing Board (SCGB).

Broadcast and electronic arts lecturer Alfred Kielwasser said he feels that the lack of student support is crippling The Depot.

“This is a place to get good free entertainment,” said Kielwasser. “You need a community of support to keep it going.”

Students who work at The Depot said they’re glad it’s open, but wary of the future.

“They are still putting the soul food restaurant in and the construction is going to be loud and messy,” said Jennifer Solis, 22, a BECA major who works as technical support at the Student Center. “It’ll make popularity decline because it’s going to be uncomfortable for people.”