From Macri Park to Ginger's, All the Gay Bars That Have Closed in the Last Year

"When it comes to the queer bar in the wild, so many threats exist, and it's only gotten worse in the past few years. Higher upfront costs combined with lower foot traffic have caused a nationwide problem for the service and food industries, which is exacerbated in queer spaces, which deal with smaller demographics than the average bar or restaurant. And of course, there's the fact that many people, especially younger people, just don't go out or have a third space anymore."

"It's hard to say whether anything can economy-proof the gay bar. In the past year alone, the U.S. has seen closures of long-running queer spaces, such as the Bay Area's Ginger's, which was open for 47 years, or Rochester, New York's, Avenue Pub, which just inched past five decades of serving queers. New businesses aren't exactly faring better, with bars such as Iowa's General Wood Shop and Brooklyn's Club Lambda having opened and closed within the span of just a couple years."

Queer bars face mounting economic and social pressures that threaten their survival. Rising upfront costs and reduced foot traffic have strained service and food businesses, with queer spaces hit harder due to smaller target demographics. Changing social habits, especially among younger people who are less likely to frequent third spaces, further depress patronage. Longstanding venues have closed after decades of service, while newly opened bars often shutter within a few years. Communities sometimes rescue struggling bars through crowdfunding campaigns, and organizations work to document and support queer nightlife, even as commemoration of lost spaces grows more important.

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