Portland Loses Another Beloved LGBTQ Bar

Sissy Bar, a beloved LGBTQ video bar in the Buckman neighborhood, closed on Saturday, October 26, reports Willamette Week. The bar opened in June 2022 and operated for just over two years.

Sissy Bar announced its closure in an Instagram post on Sunday, October 13, writing that this year’s Halloween party would be its last. “Unfortunately, due to the devastating economic and social disruption caused by the pandemic, we have made the difficult decision to close our doors,” the post reads. The post goes on to thank staff and regulars, saying that the bar has been “privileged to serve and be part of this incredible community.” The comment section on the post quickly filled with broken heart emojis, and customers sharing their goodbyes.

While Sissy Bar was a community stalwart for its lively parties and inclusive community, it was also beloved for the Colombian food prepared by owner-operator Derek Palmer. Before his time at Sissy, Palmer worked at now-closed iconic Portland venues like Raven & Rose, the Rookery Bar, Brasserie Montmartre, and Carlyle. While gay bars aren’t often renowned for their food, Palmer took pride in preparing meals and building up an audience of regulars who came specifically to eat with the community. “We don’t do things the easy way, but it’s also not hard to do fresh food,” Palmer told Eater in July 2024. “I fully believe that any gay bar can serve good food.”

The closure of Sissy Bar is a blow to Portland’s queer community, which has lost a number of bars in recent years. In 2022, Crush Bar closed after more than 20 years open, while in July, drag club Darcelle XV Showplace shared it was at risk of closing due to poor attendance. Previous years have seen the closures of Rebel Rebel, the Queen’s Head, and the Roxy.