West Hollywood Gay Bar Rage Permanently Closes Amid Pandemic

Rage, the iconic dance club in West Hollywood, has become a causality of the COVID-19 pandemic, having recently closed its doors permanently, Q Voice News reports.

Opening its doors in 1983, Rage became a standard of the Boystown gay district. However, it appears as though business had been slowing prior to the pandemic. On June 19, after Governor Gavin Newsom allowe4d bars to re-open with social distancing and masking guidelines, Rage remained shut. Nine days later, on June 28, Newsom ordered the closing of bars due to not having followed the guidelines.

Former Rage general manager, Ron Madrill, told WeHo Times:

"As far as I know, it was official two weeks ago. I heard from the landlord that yes, we're not going to be re-opening. The landlord told me that Rage pulled out. I knew it was happening with us being closed for so long, not having any income and the rent being very high."

The closure of Rage follows recent and permanent shutterings of LGBTQ businesses such as Gym Sportsbar on July 8 and Flaming Saddles Saloon on August 16; as well as Club Cobra, a gay Latino bar, and Cuties coffee shop, both of which closed at the start of the pandemic and will not re-open.