Lumber Yard Bar Explained

Lumber Yard Bar
Logo Image:Lumber Yard Bar logo.jpeg
Address:9630 16th Ave SW
City:White Center, Washington
Country:United States
Type:Gay bar

Lumber Yard Bar is a gay bar in White Center, in the U.S. state of Washington. Nathan Adams and Michale Farrar opened the bar in 2018. The business relocated in 2021, the result of arson.

Description

The lumberjack-themed,[1] queer-friendly Lumber Yard Bar operates along 16th Avenue Southwest in White Center. The interior has sanded wood and a skylight with planted succulents.[2]

In 2018, Christopher Frizzelle of The Stranger wrote: "Logs are omnipresent: logs wrapped around the cords of Edison bulbs, logs chained to walls, log benches, log stools, log pictures, etc. The menu includes 'wood pellets' (olives in cheese breading served with marinara) and a mashed potato bar."[3]

History

The LGBT-owned[4] bar opened in January 2018.[5] It claims to be, and has been described as,[6] [7] White Center's first gay bar.[8] Owned by Nathan Adams and Michale Farrar,[9] [10] Lumber Yard has hosted drag shows,[11] [12] show tune sing-alongs,[13] and viewing parties for television shows such as RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.[14] As of 2023, Lumber Yard hosted lesbian karaoke as well as 'tacos and trivia' weekly, and has a monthly event dedicated to kink.[15]

A fire in July 2021, later classified as arson,[16] [17] forced the business to close and relocate.[18] [19] The owners called the incident a hate crime.[20] A GoFundMe fundraising campaign led by White Center Pride was successful in raising $100,000 for Lumber Yard.[21] In 2022, the bar hosted an Mpox vaccine clinic in collaboration with local public health officials.[22] [23]

In January 2024, Lumber Yard was one of several bars raided by the Joint Enforcement Team (JET), a coalition of Seattle Police, Fire, and the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB), among other groups.[24] [25] [26] The raid prompted a backlash and a policy review.[27] [28]

Reception

Esquire included Lumber Yard in a 2022 list of the 32 best gay bars in the United States and said,[29] "Comfortable and fun for leather daddies, trans women, bears and cubs, and lipstick lesbians alike, Lumberyard is a throwback to an earlier era, but in the best possible way. The original was burned down in an anti-gay hate-crime a few years back, but the revival has just opened across the street and is bigger and better, with a new performance space."[30] Christopher Frizzelle included Lumber Yard in The Stranger 2018 and 2023 overviews of Seattle's best LGBT establishments. In a 2023 overview of the metropolitan area's queer establishments, Seattle Gay News said Adams and Farrar "[offer] an experience that calls back to the pair's love for hosting".[31]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Burns . Chase . Pride Comes to White Center . 2024-03-23 . The Stranger . en . 2023-06-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230603205843/https://www.thestranger.com/features/2019/06/19/40518180/pride-comes-to-white-center . live .
  2. Web site: White Center Pride rises from the ashes of Rat City . 2024-03-23 . . en-us . 2024-03-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240323180105/https://www.sgn.org/story.php?316563 . live .
  3. Web site: Frizzelle . Christopher . The Stranger's Guide to the Best Gay Clubs, Shops, and Bars in Seattle . 2024-03-23 . The Stranger . en . 2024-03-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240323180300/https://www.thestranger.com/queer/2018/06/20/25137305/the-strangers-guide-to-the-best-gay-clubs-shops-and-bars-in-seattle . live .
  4. Web site: LGBTQ-Owned Businesses in Seattle 2023 . 2024-03-23 . . en-US . 1931-2792 . 2024-01-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240115025219/https://www.seattlemet.com/style-and-shopping/lgbtq-owned-businesses . live .
  5. Web site: Burns . Chase . White Center Keeps Getting Gayer . 2024-03-23 . . en . 1935-9004 . 2023-03-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230301164409/https://www.thestranger.com/visual-art/2019/05/13/40186284/white-center-keeps-getting-gayer . live .
  6. Web site: Syed . Maleeha . Snyder . Amanda . Martin . Genna . Local Pride events signal a shift away from corporate support Crosscut . 2024-03-23 . Crosscut.com . en . 2024-02-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240228012728/https://crosscut.com/equity/2022/06/local-pride-events-signal-shift-away-corporate-support . live .
  7. Web site: 2021-07-05 . Fire in White Center burns through neighborhood's first LGBTQ+ bar and damages other businesses . 2024-03-23 . The Seattle Times . en-US . 2023-06-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230603181456/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/fire-in-white-center-burns-through-neighborhoods-first-lgbtq-bar-and-damages-other-businesses/ . live .
  8. Web site: 2019-07-03 . The Swallow, a new gay bar, opens in White Center, and a big-name chef comes to Interbay . 2024-03-23 . The Seattle Times . en-US . 2022-10-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221005061320/https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/the-swallow-a-new-gay-bar-opens-in-white-center-and-a-big-name-chef-comes-to-interbay/ . live .
  9. Web site: Hemion . Carter . 2022-03-18 . Lumber Yard Bar rebuilds: Gay community staple rises from ashes . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230111231322/https://www.sgn.org/story.php?313945 . 2023-01-11 . 2022-12-11 . . en-us.
  10. News: Just the beginning: White Center hosts its first Pride weekend . 2024-03-23 . . . en . 0745-970X . 3734418 . 2024-03-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240321132321/https://www.seattlepi.com/seattlenews/article/Just-the-beginning-White-Center-hosts-its-first-14049085.php . live .
  11. Web site: Martin . Genna . LGBTQ bars are ready for Pride after a year of lockdown Crosscut . 2024-03-23 . . Cascade Public Media . en . 2024-02-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240228013126/https://crosscut.com/culture/2021/06/lgbtq-bars-are-ready-pride-after-year-lockdown . live .
  12. Web site: Timberlust at The Lumber Yard: "Magical and a dream come true" . 2024-03-23 . Seattle Gay News . en-us.
  13. Web site: Baume . Matt . Matt Baume . 2022-09-16 . Show Tunes Sing-Along Night Makes Its Grand Return to the Lumber Yard . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220922084444/https://www.thestranger.com/stranger-suggests/2022/09/16/78444861/show-tunes-sing-along-night-makes-its-grand-return-to-the-lumber-yard . 2022-09-22 . 2022-12-11 . The Stranger . en.
  14. Web site: A night at The Lumber Yard . 2024-03-23 . Seattle Gay News . en-us . 2024-03-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240323180013/https://www.sgn.org/story.php?327264 . live .
  15. Web site: Frizzelle . Christopher . Seattle's Best Gay Clubs, Shops, Bars, and Bathhouses . 2024-03-23 . The Stranger . en . 2023-06-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230626103441/https://www.thestranger.com/visitors-guide-2023/2023/06/15/79037390/seattles-best-gay-clubs-shops-and-bars . live .
  16. Web site: Zhou . Amanda . 2021-07-09 . Fire that damaged White Center LGBTQ+ bar, other businesses, being investigated as arson . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221211152418/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/fire-that-damaged-white-center-lgbtq-bar-other-businesses-being-investigated-as-arson/ . 2022-12-11 . 2022-12-11 . . . en-US . 0745-9696 . 9198928.
  17. Web site: Guarente . Gabe . 2021-07-12 . White Center Fire That Destroyed Lumber Yard Bar and Other Businesses Under Investigation as Arson . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221211152418/https://seattle.eater.com/2021/7/12/22573952/white-center-fire-lumber-yard-bar-arson-investigation . 2022-12-11 . 2022-12-11 . . . en.
  18. Web site: LUMBER YARD ABLAZE: White Center's oldest Gay bar victim of Monday morning fire . July 9, 2021. 2024-03-23 . Seattle Gay News . en-us . 2024-03-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240323172036/https://www.sgn.org/story.php?306771 . live .
  19. Web site: Guarente . Gabe . 2021-07-22 . White Center's Lumber Yard Bar Lands New Location Weeks After Devastating Fire . 2022-12-11 . Eater Seattle . en . 2022-12-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221211152418/https://seattle.eater.com/2021/7/22/22589079/lumber-bar-yard-finds-new-location-after-fire-arson-white-center . live .
  20. Web site: 2021-07-11 . Several fundraisers to help White Center businesses damaged by arson . 2024-03-23 . KIRO 7 News Seattle . en . 2021-07-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210711100418/https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/several-fundraisers-help-white-center-businesses-damaged-by-arson/E3XEH7FWH5GYNGF5FUFBIFCJRA/ . live .
  21. Web site: Guarente . Gabe . 2021-07-06 . White Center Fire Damages Popular Lumber Yard Bar, In-the-Works Boba Cafe, and Dottie's Double Wide [UPDATED] ]. 2024-03-23 . Eater Seattle . en . 2023-12-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231203073714/https://seattle.eater.com/2021/7/6/22565376/white-center-fire-damages-businesses-lumber-yard-bar-boba-shop . live .
  22. Web site: Engelson . Andrew . 'A lack of care': Monkeypox response echoes homophobia of past crises . 2024-03-23 . Crosscut.com . en . 2024-02-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240227234547/https://crosscut.com/news/2022/08/lack-care-monkeypox-response-echoes-homophobia-past-crises . live .
  23. Web site: 2022-08-14 . White Center bar partners with King County to host monkeypox vaccination event . 2024-03-23 . king5.com . en-US . 2022-10-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221006020600/https://www.king5.com/article/news/health/monkeypox/white-center-bar-partners-king-county-host-monkeypox-vaccination-event/281-e37a6a08-b3d2-4863-bcee-d009152424d6 . live .
  24. Web site: McCall . Vivian . Police, Fire, and the Liquor Board Raided Two Seattle Gay Bars . 2024-03-23 . The Stranger . en . 2024-02-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240224062249/https://www.thestranger.com/queer/2024/01/29/79363398/police-fire-and-the-liquor-board-raided-two-seattle-gay-bars . live .
  25. Web site: McCall . Vivian . Seattle's Queer Community Demands Swift Change After Raids of Gay Bars . 2024-03-23 . The Stranger . en . 2024-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205064235/https://www.thestranger.com/news/2024/01/31/79366392/seattles-queer-community-demands-swift-change-after-raids-of-gay-bars . live .
  26. Web site: 2024-01-31 . Seattle's gay community crying foul after SPD joins liquor agents on 'premise visits' . 2024-03-23 . . en . 2024-02-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240204043020/https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/seattles-gay-community-crying-foul-after-spd-join-liquor-agents-premise-visits/X33JVVHRYBAS5G4EZ343727Q6U/ . live .
  27. Web site: Backlash on Queer bar raids: LCB drops indecency citations, changes course . 2024-03-23 . Seattle Gay News . en-us . 2024-03-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240323172036/https://www.sgn.org/story.php?331386 . live .
  28. Web site: Russell . John . 2024-02-06 . Seattle LGBTQ+ venues get a major victory as state review policy that led to bar raid . 2024-03-23 . . 2024-02-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240213125403/https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2024/02/seattle-lgbtq-venues-get-a-major-victory-as-state-review-policy-that-led-to-bar-raid/ . live .
  29. Web site: 2022-10-28 . Top LGBTQ Bars in the U.S. According to Esquire! . 2024-03-23 . Bear World Magazine . en-GB . 2023-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230923190029/https://bearworldmag.com/top-gay-bars-in-the-u-s-according-to-esquire/ . live .
  30. Web site: 2022-10-19 . The 32 Best Gay Bars in America . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221211153919/https://www.esquire.com/food-drink/bars/a41567406/best-gay-bars-clubs-in-america/ . 2022-12-11 . 2022-12-11 . . en-us . 0194-9535 . 824603960.
  31. Web site: Liquid Pride: Queer spaces to drink around town . 2024-03-23 . Seattle Gay News . en-us . 2024-03-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240323180014/https://www.sgn.org/story.php?326212 . live .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Lumber Yard Bar".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.