Crush Bar Will Officially Close In December

Crush Bar, the storied LGBTQ+ bar on SE Morrison Street, will close its doors at the end of the year, according to a December 2 social media post. Currently, Crush is the longest running queer bar on Portland’s east side, beloved for its friendly neighborhood bar vibes and suite of queer-focused events and parties.

If the news sounds familiar, it’s because the bar made a nearly identical announcement on the same date last year. However, a change in ownership and an unnamed employee’s investment in the bar kept it open for another year. The social media post acknowledged the sense of déjà vu this recent development might provoke, writing “…this time it is reality.” The post does not provide any additional details or explanation for the decision. Portland Monthly has requested more information regarding the closure, and this story will be updated when and if it becomes available. 

When John “Woody” Clarke opened Crush in 2001, most of the city’s gay bars were clustered on the west side, especially on a strip of Stark Street known colloquially as Vaseline Alley. Crush joined now-closed lesbian bar the Egyptian Club, one of the only other queer bars east of the Willamette. It avoided the more nightclub-oriented vibes of many other gay bars open at the time, instead offering a comfortable, neighborhood atmosphere, a robust food menu filled with pub staples and vegan options, and cocktails that kept up with drink trends without ever getting too faddish. In the evenings, it would fill its space with queer stand-up comedy sets, drag shows, and dance parties, becoming a crucial part of SE Portland’s nightlife.

Over the years, Crush earned praise from the media and public, appearing in queer-friendly travel and city guides and regularly receiving attention in the Willamette Week’s readers’ choice awards, winning best LGBTQ+ bar numerous times, and even winning the coveted position of best bar.

In early 2020, Clarke laid off Crush’s staff as COVID-19 shut down dining rooms across the country. In response, the bar’s staff accused Clarke of denying PTO payments and wages for planned shifts they were owed, leading to a sit-in with a dozen unionized employees. Portland Police broke up the protest, but eventually Clarke capitulated on some of the demands, settling with employees on PTO payout.

When the bar almost closed in 2023, Clarke stepped down from operations, though the exact details remain ambiguous. Since then, the bar has remained popular, especially in the warmer months, and largely unchanged, continuing to host drag shows and dance parties.

Crush Bar will remain open through December with a number of scheduled events, including an arm-wrestling competition. Its last day will be December 31, closing just after New Year’s at 1am.