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When long-standing gay bar Embers suddenly shuttered last December, the community was shocked. Following the owner’s “massive stroke,” the club closed after standing at 110 NW Broadway since 1969. This week, Northern California bar veteran TJ Bruce announced to Willamette Week that he would open a new gay dance club in the former Embers space. The downtown addition, named Badlands, is slated to open this summer.
While he has multiple bars in California, Bruce told reporter Matthew Korfhage that he has family on the Oregon coast, visits often, and has “... become enamored with the space.”
Bruce runs a LGBTQ-friendly bar in Sacramento, also named Badlands. The line up of events for the original include karaoke night, ’90s night, $3 Smirnoff drinks, drag shows, and go-go dancers. Bruce also owns three more gay bars across California named Splash.
• 40-Year-Old Downtown Gay Club Embers Will Close Thursday [Willamette Week]
• Embers [Facebook]
• Badlands [Official]
• Splash [Official]
