As an immigrant from Greece coming to the United States in 1956, 86-year-old Nectar Rorris never imagined that the restaurant and music club he opened 50 years ago would become synonymous with Phish, but he credits the jam band with giving Nectar's a national spotlight and making it a place sought out by local and traveling musicians alike.

“Phish made Nectar's," Rorris said.

Phish, on the other hand, credits Rorris with their early success, giving them a stage to experiment when they were just starting out in the early 80s.

Now, the iconic venue in Burlington has closed its doors despite efforts to reopen after fostering a community of diverse artists for 50 years, despite negotiations to keep the music going.

Nectar's announced it was taking a pause in June, facing “immense challenges affecting both downtown Burlington and the local live music and entertainment scene." The venue later confirmed in an announcement on social media that it was closing for good. The post immediately drew hundreds of comments from musicians, former employees and fans with tributes to the venue.

Phish's 1992 record was titled “A Picture of Nectar” as a tribute to Rorris and the venue, who gave the fledgling band a residency for nearly two years.

“The guys from Phish were very good to us,” said Alex Budney, who started at Nectar’s as a cook in 2001 when he was 19, making their famous gravy fries and later working almost every job in the building over 20 years there.

“My college band would play there on Monday nights and it would be like nobody there, but the keyboard player from Phish would come down in a snowstorm and sit at the bar and watch us play and talk to us,” Budney said.

Phish bassist Mike Gordon, who still lives in the area, even popped in during singer-songwriter Maggie Rose’s sound check last September and ended up joining her band for two songs that night. Rose had rerouted her tour just to be able to play at Nectar’s.

“It truly was just one of those surreal moments,” said Rose.

Phish declined to comment on the venue's closing.

Though Nectar’s was made most famous by Phish, it also hosted such artists as Vermont’s own Grace Potter and Anais Mitchell, B.B. King, Spacehog, Blind Melon, and the Decemberists. And it was known for regular music series like Metal Mondays, Dead Set Tuesdays — a tribute to The Grateful Dead — blues, jazz and reggae nights, comedy shows and Sunday Night Mass, a production showcasing electronic artists from around the world.

Nectar’s ownership and management changed repeatedly, but it remained a place for locals to discover new music. Budney said Nectar's supported emerging artists with residency opportunities to play weekly for a month or more and build a fan base.

The venue itself, though, ultimately couldn't make it as its costs rose and it found a significant amount of construction in downtown Burlington reduced foot traffic and turned away business.

“The energy has shifted,” the venue posted in a social media statement in May. "And for a small, independent venue like ours, that shift cuts deep.”

But those who played a role in the club’s history say its legacy is undeniable.

“Fifty years is an amazing run for a nightclub,” said Justin Remillard, who booked artists for Nectar’s electronic music series for 25 years. “The only constant is change and what has happened with Nectar’s and the building closing, we have to figure out what’s next.”