Another landmark queer venue has just shuttered for good thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic: proprietors of the popular West Hollywood venue Rage have announced the club will not reopen when social distancing regulations lift.
Opened in 1983, Rage built a following for its various theme nights including Musical Mondays, which operated around all show tune music, GAMboi, which catered to Asian men, and one of the few 18+ nights in the Los Angeles area. The venue also had a complete stage layout where it often hosted drag shows, and also hosted Latin and urban-themed nights. The club shut down in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and has remained closed since.
Manager Ron Madril, who had operated the club since 1997, announced the closing via Facebook.
“My employment since May 1997,” Madril wrote. “It’s almost a lifetime! The good times will always be cherished, as will the staff…past & present! It’s been a journey meeting sooooo many AMAZING people! So many! Thanks for all the memories, friendships and love!”
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WehoVille also reports that the decision to shut down Rage permanently came after a protracted rent dispute between Robert Maghame and Saeed Sattari, the operators of Rage, and the building’s landlord, Monte Overstreet. Maghame & Sattari’s lease was set to expire this November, but the pair could not come to terms with Overstreet regarding rent.
The closure of Rage is the latest blow to the West Hollywood queer scene, following the closure of the bars Flaming Saddles and Gym Bar earlier this year. Both of those venues also closed after ongoing rent disputes during the COVID-19 pandemic; the building which housed Flaming Saddles is also owned by Monte Overstreet.
Chrisk
West Hollywood’s going to start looking like any other neighborhood now.
Rock Star
Dearest
Dearest Chrisk,
Having grown up in WeHo I don’t think that’s gonna happen anytime soon. Us gay folks have learned to be a patient group over the years of struggle and keep in mind the pandemic will end long before us gay persons of interest lose our commitment to community and solidarity.
Love and hugs,
Rock
Walker
Is there a reason only WeHo bar closures are reported here? Several NYC venues have closed recently and not a peep–including Ninth Avenue Saloon, which has been a gay bar under one name or another for over 30 years, in Hell’s Kitchen (long before it became a gayborhood).
Rock Star
Dearest Walker,
Sorry to hear that sad news. I remember on one of my earliest visits to NY going to a gay club that used to be a church somewhere in the Village. Anyway Thanks for reporting the latest. Perhaps there will be a revival after the madness ends.
Love and a hug
Rock
Josh447
Makes me wonder how Mickeys and Revolver are doing.
Rock Star
Good question, I wonder as well.
Is the Stampede still open? How about the Bitter End West? Oil Can Harry’s? The Farm?. The Factory? Studio One? Axis? just sayin’
Love and a hug,
Rock
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
And on it goes. Midtowne Spa in downtown L.A. has all but closed considering there is now a locked gate surrounding the front of the facility and messages on their phone left by management date back to April. They have closed their facilities everywhere else across the country as well. North Hollywood Spa can’t be too far behind. As run down as Westside club (in NYC) had become they may as well pack it in too. They weren’t even providing hot water to shower with and their steam room has been used as a utility closet for over ten years after being ordered to close.
sfcarlos65
Steamworks Berkeley (California), is closed until further notice, as well.
frapachino
The socialists in California have destroyed the state for some time to come!
Kangol2
It’s the fascist Don the Con in Washington, doll. He’s destroyed the entire country for some time to come!
Vince
I’m sure nothing would give you more joy.
I don’t think you know what socialism even means other then a right wing propaganda insult you hear on Fox News.
Gay Thomas
Why do you hang out on gay sites? Creepy AF, honey.
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
Do you too find it ironic that the country is slipping more and more into socialism under a GOP president and a GOP controlled congress? Or lets say the conditions that fester socialism have increased ten fold under them, yes or no?
armandov
In the case of Rage and Flaming Saddles – they are both owned by the same super greedy capitalist landlord. So, it was capitalism that caused this problem and not socialism.
sfcarlos65
“Picture it, West Hollywood, 1988”. Sad to see it go. I curse this pandemic on a daily basis.
CityguyUSA
Now it’s happening in the gayest areas of the country. It’s been years since the last of the bars closed here. Land in inner city locations has just gotten too valuable and the younger generations don’t have any desire to run these places so the owners are closing up and cleaning up.
Rock Star
Just a thought.
Why are most of the posters in the comment section so anonymous?
Come out come out wherever you are
and meet the young pretties that fell from a star…
Congrats to ” Happy Days Vince” San Fran Carlos, and especially Chrisk for showing your true selves. Ya’ll so brave. I love QUEERTITY
Love and a hug
Rock.
Yes the same Rock that has the (in)famous gay band, Rock Star And The Boys In The Box.
That Rock.
PS
Try not to huff up. just some catty non-PC humor. GOI.
hotdogla
Palm Springs the new WeHo?