Barracuda Lounge, a beloved gay bar in Chelsea that has hosted New York City's longest-running drag competition, will close on March 23 due to construction damage from adjacent luxury condo projects. Owner Bob Pontarelli expressed concern over the impact of ongoing demolition work, which has made it impossible to continue operations. Established 30 years ago, Barracuda has been a pivotal space for the LGBTQ+ community, fostering many artists through its legendary drag competitions, despite the challenges presented by changing city landscapes and rising real estate costs.
In the past few months, a major demolition of the buildings surrounding Barracuda was undertaken. The damage from the construction has significantly affected the interior and overall operation of the bar.
Pontarelli opened Barracuda about 30 years ago... they made their space cozy—"a funky living-room environment." Soon thereafter, they launched its weekly drag competition, Star Search, which served as inspiration for drag shows.
Collection
[
|
...
]