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Iconic SF Queer Bar, The Stud, Finally Reopens

After a 4-year closure, the historic LGBT bar now has a new home at 1123 Folsom Street
By - posted 4/23/2024 No Comment

Thanks to NBC Bay Area for sharing the news that San Francisco’s The Stud bar has finally reopened.

The Stud, the country’s only cooperatively owned nightclub, had been in operation for 54 years when it shut down in May of 2020. After a four-year closure, the historic LGBT bar finally has a new home at 1123 Folsom Street with double the space of their old venue.

SF’s oldest Gay Bar dating back to 1966 was originally located on Folsom where Holy Cow is now. In 1987, the bar moved to 9th Street where it was for 33 years until it shut down with a drag funeral on May 31, 2020 in the midst of COVID.

Thankfully, it wasn’t the end for The Stud and they finally have a new venue, moving just a few blocks away,  in SF’s historic Leather District. Their new venue was previously home to Trademark sports bar which also recently hosted the pop-up “Golden Girls Kitchen” experience.

While The Stud is finally open once again; they are still fundraising. They need an additional $75,000 to build a stage and a green room for performances. After the stage is complete, the venue will also open up as California’s first drag school.

How Can You Help?
The Stud say that it will take about $500,000 to turn the former sports bar into a fabulous drag bar complete with stage, dressing rooms, DJ booths, etc… Donate on GiveButter (currently they are at $24,000 of the needed $500,000)