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Last Ditch bar in Greenfield closes, seeks new ownership after backlash
MassLive • • business
Key Points:
- Last Ditch, a COVID-cautious lesbian bar in Greenfield, Western Mass., announced a soft closure while seeking new ownership due to financial struggles and staffing challenges.
- The bar, opened last year to revitalize queer nightlife, faced national scrutiny after relaxing its mask mandate in September, which sparked backlash from immunocompromised patrons and COVID-cautious community members.
- The mask-optional policy led to widespread online harassment, forcing management to disable comments and tighten security measures, while restricting community meetings to protect the space.
- Despite the controversy drawing attention from major outlets like the New York Times and Forbes, Last Ditch emphasized the need for internal work away from public scrutiny and expressed readiness to pass ownership to new leaders.
- The business holds approximately $70,000 in equipment and inventory and is actively seeking buyers or a cooperative transfer to ensure its legacy continues.
