As LGBTQ+ nightlife returns, will the scene be forever changed?

Pre-pandemic, Capitol Hill was the undisputed center of Seattle’s LGBTQ+ nightlife. The area’s long standing institutions like Neighbours, The Cuff and R Place were decades-old multilevel complexes and spaces for shared communities, themed nights and blockbuster Pride events, and were — especially Neighbours and R Place — notable destinations for world-famous drag performers. Smaller though just as vibrant bars — like Pony, the Eagle, the Crescent Lounge, the Wildrose and more — firmly anchored LGBTQ+ communities to the Hill.

Then, the early pandemic brought waves of lockdowns, temporary and permanent closures, and the future of LGBTQ+ nightlife seemed uncertain. While Neighbours sat shuttered, it suffered damage and financial losses due to break-ins. When the owner of R Place’s four-story building died, the estate chose not to renew the club’s lease…

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