Pipeline Cafe will close in February after more than a decade of hosting concerts, parties, fundraisers and other events, the nightclub’s owner confirmed yesterday.

Greg Azus took over in 2008 and continued to promote a variety of events, putting extra emphasis on live music and stand-up comedy. He also expanded the club’s food menu and opened for lunch to serve office workers in surrounding neighborhoods.

City fire inspectors cut the legal capacity of the venue to 299 people from 951 in December after finding several violations. At the time, Azus said fire sprinklers covering a 2003 expansion of the building were not connected to an adequate water supply. Pipeline Cafe, on Pohukaina Street in Kakaako, also developed the expansion without a building permit.

"The time it would take to get that work done was estimated at six weeks," Azus said Thursday. "We could have stayed open; we just would have still had the minimum occupancy. But to pay the rent and get that (fix to the sprinklers) done at the same time would be (financially) impossible.

"I’m disappointed, obviously. I wish I had done better, but I’ve already borrowed a big amount just to get the club, so I’ve got to pay that back. I’m already (at risk of) losing my house."

Pipeline will host a handful of events over the next 10 days before auctioning off what is left in the club on Feb. 5. Previously announced performances by comedian Lachlan Patterson on Wednesday, stand-up comic Jim Jefferies on Friday and Hot Lava Entertainment’s "Pro Jam ’11" next Saturday will go on as scheduled.

After being forced to scramble to relocate a number of concerts after Pipeline’s problems came to light late last year, BAMP Project’s Matty Hazelgrove said he was not surprised to hear the club would be closing.

"We were not too surprised," he wrote via e-mail Thursday. "Several weeks ago we were advised not to book any future shows past February.

"Pipeline was instrumental for a company like us to get a foothold in Hawaii. We have had great times there and made a lot of relationships that we will carry with us for years to come."

Pipeline was a favorite of promoters and concert fans alike due to its somewhat neutral decor and ability to host large crowds for a wide variety of events. Also important was a liquor license that allowed drinks to be served until almost 4 a.m.

"I think Pipeline is an important part of the concertgoing community," said Cedric Duarte, local sales manager at Ohana Broadcasting Co. (KDDB-FM, KPOI-FM, KQMQ-FM, KUMU-FM) and a regular visitor to the club since it opened in December 1999.

"At Pipeline you could go see a rock show, a reggae show and a hip-hop show all in the same week, and the crowds would range from a couple hundred to more than a thousand people."

Azus would not comment on whether the club would reopen under new ownership.

"In the interim there are probably going to be fewer shows until a new venue can open up," Duarte said. "But whenever one venue closes, another one or two pop up. For a long time, Nimitz Hall and World Cafe were the spots. And then when they closed, Pipeline showed up. Ultimately, another venue will open and replace them someday.

"I think this affects me more personally," he continued. "I remember the shows and being there with my friends having a good time. I’m going to miss it."