2 weeks Ago By Quinn Mercer
After three decades as a cornerstone of the LGBTQ+ community in Chelsea, the beloved Barracuda Lounge is closing its doors. Its last call will be on Saturday, with a final event to celebrate its legacy. The gay bar at 275 W.
22nd Street has been a fixture for nightlife, drag performances, and a social meeting ground since 1995. However, during a recent phone interview with Gothamist, Barracuda owner Bob Pontarelli shared that irreparable damage caused by an adjacent luxury condo construction has made it "impossible to conduct business as usual." Pontarelli lamented the change, saying "There's very little left in Chelsea now that was there when we opened.
"The history of Barracuda Lounge is filled with color and vibrancy, having hosted countless performers like Sherry Vine, Jackie Beat, Hedda Lettuce, and celebrity guests including Jennifer Coolidge and Christina Applegate. In a statement given to Broadway World, as reported by Eater, Pontarelli expressed his sentiments on the closure: "Thirty years is a very long time." With the bar's interior compromised, Pontarelli has made the difficult decision to shutter Barracuda, but promised that "our show will go on," hinting at future plans he has yet to detail.
Barracuda Lounge was more than just a bar; it was a hub for socializing and live performances. Known for its “Star Search” drag night, it helped create icons in the drag community before "RuPaul's Drag Race." The venue became a melting pot for culture, social connections, and was an integral part of the Broadway community's ecosystem.
As Gothamist revealed from an interview with William Mullin, a producer and comedian, the lounge not only hosted parties and performances but was also a place where relationships bloomed, as it did for him 22 years ago. "I think that art is lost now, and it's a shame," Mullin told the publication about the fading tradition of meeting in person.As a part of Barracuda's swan song, the bar will host the "To Proudly Go: Barracuda Blowout Show" on Saturday at 6 p.
m., as discovered in the Eater report. Despite the loss, Pontarelli continues to operate two other establishments, Industry Bar and Elmo, keeping a portion of the spirit that Barracuda represented alive in the city's bustling LGBTQ+ social scene.
"I don't pretend we're Stonewall, but Barracuda is a legend," Pontarelli shared, as per Gothamist..
