Burleskaraoke (Image: Queer/Bar)
The new ownership at Capitol Hill’s Queer/Bar is reshaping the 11th Ave club with a July makeover.
“This isn’t a remodel, it’s an opportunity to reorient the bar to create a more adaptable space for events and performances, while providing a more comfortable patron experience,” new co-owner Scott Walent said in an announcement of plans for the venue.
The Capitol Hill gay bar staple is making changes this summer as long-time venue patron Dustin Akers and queer nightlife entrepreneur Walent take over as co-owners.
CHS reported here in June as Joey Burgess and Murf Hall said they were selling off Queer/Bar and stepping away from nightclub ownership. They continue to hold Elliott Bay Book Company, Oddfellows, and The Gemini Room.
The transaction came a year after Burgess and Hall sold The Cuff to Walent who built his career in San Francisco as an events promoter and has vowed to restore and protect the 13th Ave leather bar.
Now Walent is stepping up to take 11th Ave’s Queer/Bar under his wing with help from Akers.
The 11th Ave club, a central hub for performance, culture, and community since taking over the former Purr location in 2017, is temporarily closing its doors in July for a light refresh before reopening.
While the venue gets a slight physical and operational update, its new owners say Queer/Bar’s identity will remain rooted in supporting local drag, live performance, and queer culture. The incoming team plans to return familiar staples like weekly karaoke, trivia, sports viewings, and drag programming, alongside a reopened kitchen featuring a new menu.
“Queer/Bar has a deep history in being a space for connection and community,” Akers said in the new team’s announcement, highlighting plans to collaborate closely with local artists and creatives as the space evolves.
Meanwhile, the venue is also hiring.
Queer/Bar is located at 1518 11th Ave. Learn more about reopening plans at thequeerbar.com.
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