Skip to content

Beloved Gay Bar Purr is Moving to Montlake

Facing a rent increase, the longtime Capitol Hill gay bar has found a new home.

By Michael Rietmulder July 20, 2017

purr-people-tweak

The writing was on the wall.

Earlier this summer, the Stranger reported on the chatter that longtime gay bar Purr Cocktail Lounge was getting priced out of its Capitol Hill home. In July, the rumors were confirmed when the nightclub announced its closing party, which went down Wednesday night.

Owner Barbie Roberts had previously hinted that the beloved bar wouldn’t entirely ride off into the rainbow-colored sunset after the Capitol Hill sendoff. During the farewell bash, Roberts announced that Purr is moving to a new space in Montlake, according to the Capitol Hill Times.

Apparently, Roberts closed on its new digs, which used to be Pub Montlake, just hours before last night’s party. From the sounds of it, Roberts is looking to take the relocated Purr “back to our roots” as more of a neighborhood bar than nightclub.

“A nightclub wasn’t really our vision, but I embraced it because you get with the times and go with the flow,” Roberts told the Capitol Hill Times.

According to the neighborhood paper, Roberts started hunting for a new location a year ago, anticipating a rent hike. (Apparently, she was right.) She had her eyes on two other Capitol Hill spaces, but ultimately the building owners didn’t want another bar to move in beneath their upstairs apartments.

Look for Purr to reopen in its new location in a month or so.

 

Follow Us

Restaurant Roundup: Christmas Dining and Copine Closing

Restaurant Roundup: Christmas Dining and Copine Closing

Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.

Sometimes the best gift you can receive (or even treat yourself to) is to not have to cook during the holidays, so why not take advantage of the restaurants that are staying open? From Blue Water Bistro in Leschi to Ben Paris downtown and Maximilien in Pike Place Market, there are plenty of options on…

Counter Culture: Road Trip Edition—Sea J’s Cafe

Counter Culture: Road Trip Edition—Sea J’s Cafe

A winter drive to Port Townsend reveals a humble spot that’s worth the miles for its cod and chips.

Winter in Seattle has a way of convincing you to stay home, to hunker down and forget the gems just beyond the city limits. But winter is exactly when Port Townsend shines its most authentic light. Gone are the summer crowds—what remains is a charming, windswept seaside town that feels like it’s yours alone. Before…

Neighbors helping neighbors: The door-to-door fight against hunger
Sponsored

Neighbors helping neighbors: The door-to-door fight against hunger

Photos by United Way of King County Donate: Our neighborhood Fund If you see fresh produce or hot meals being delivered in your neighborhood, don’t be surprised to learn that the order came from a local food bank, not a pizza parlor or supermarket. Nonprofits are changing the way they make food available to people…

Restaurant Roundup: Remembering Legends and Late-Night Tacos

Restaurant Roundup: Remembering Legends and Late-Night Tacos

Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.

A lot of Seattle stories seem to be coming to a close as we near the year’s end, with some iconic eateries going out on their own terms and others fighting to survive. Sadly, we’ve also lost some truly outsized figures on the culinary scene, including Ms. Helen Coleman, the “Queen of Seattle Soul Food,”…