Onto the truck they loaded almost everything that wasn’t nailed down and some that was,” Miele explained. “Taking advantage of a bar that was closed for many months, the thieves used a truck to plow down the fence, back it up to the back door, broke in and went on a rampage. “I paid the rent on the building from March till September, but finally just ran out of money.”Īlong with the financial hardship, the club was vandalized and robbed in November 2020. “We were bleeding money - and making none,” Miele said. Miele said he has put a lot of his own money and personal time into keeping the nightclub running, knowing how important it is for the local queer community. “I am thrilled at the progress we have made over the recent past - but I ask the younger generation not to be complacent, because what we have gained can be easily lost too.”
Many obstacles have come my way: police raids of the ’90s, the AIDS epidemic, government harassment, but we have persevered and rose to the occasion,” Miele said. “As a bar owner of close to 30 years, I have seen and survived much. Frenz took many hard hits during the course of the pandemic.
From financially struggling to stay open to being horribly vandalized, C. Frenz’s owner Stephen Miele has owned the establishment since 2005. Without community support, the nightclub may have fallen under during the closure.Ĭ. Frenz shut down for over a year when the state announced the stay-at-home order, just like other non-essential businesses. Frenz is a short 11-minute drive.Īs the pandemic swept the nation, the largest parts of the LGBTQIA+ social scene were taken from the community. For CSUN students, a drive to West Hollywood can take over 30 minutes, whereas C. Frenz caters to people from all walks of life. Bullet leans toward a male-dominated clientele, while C. Frenz and Bullet Bar are the two resident gay bars. There are multiple queer bars in West Hollywood and only two in the Valley. Frenz in the Reseda neighborhood of Los Angeles, Calif., on Oct. Leading bar tender for C Frenz, Memo, right, makes a vodka drink for a guest at C. Frenz is the closest nightclub outside of West Hollywood. For the rainbow community of the San Fernando Valley, C. Three main places for socializing in an LGBTQIA+ setting are resource centers, bars and nightclubs. Safe spaces to socialize are still a rare commodity for the community. Frenz Nightclub brings the local LGBTQIA+ community together and creates a hometown - the “Cheers’ ‘ of the San Fernando Valley for the rainbow community. The soft glow of a small flame illuminates their features as they light the tips of their cigarettes.Ĭ. Outside, laughter is heard from a group of three friends. The musky smell of the fog machine fills your nose as you hear the clanking of billiards in the other room.
#GAY BAR NEAR ME OASIS UPDATE#
Find more about both here and rest assured that when the rumors of new clubs become reality, we'll update you ASAP.The neon light beams refract from the smoke-hazed dance floor as reggaeton music fills the room. However, the two most consistent gay bars in the area are Rascals in Fort Myers and Cruisers in Cape Coral. There are a number of bars hosting activities to draw both straight and gay patrons, with things like drag shows and drag queen bingo. The fact that so many have closed over the years in Southwest Florida is no reflection on the interest, activism or size of the LGBT community. Operating a restaurant, bar or lounge is challenging. Some in the community claim victory, citing more acceptance in mainstream clubs, regardless of sexual orientation.
Instead, at least in the Fort Myers area, the number has actually decreased-significantly. At a time when more attention and acceptance has been given to LGBT community nationwide you might think the number of clubs and establishments catering to the crowd would have increased. Successfully finding a gay club in an unfamiliar city can be trying, especially in the Fort Myers area.