From Bon Appétit · Tara Knight · · 1m 20s
Last Ditch Bar's Survival Plan
Lesbian bar Last Ditch faces closure but community model offers path to survival.
In brief
Lesbian bar Last Ditch faces closure but community model offers path to survival. Last Ditch Bar, a lesbian venue in Greenfield, Massachusetts, plans to become a cooperative to share costs and responsibilities after financial struggles. Originally reported by Bon Appétit.
Last Ditch Bar Crisis
Jackie Matellian spent months living in her truck working multiple jobs to keep Last Ditch Bar open in Greenfield, Massachusetts.
Financial Strain
Workers went unpaid, Matellian carried a $50,000 startup loan, and the landlord demanded $3,900 in overdue rent.
Bar's Radical Inclusivity
Last Ditch welcomed lesbians, transsexuals, and queer people who couldn't afford cover, offered free food and harm-reduction supplies, and required KN95 masks.
Mask Policy Backfire
The bar's decision to make mask-wearing optional on Saturday nights alienated immunocompromised patrons and failed to attract enough new customers.
Community Meeting Failure
A three-and-a-half-hour community meeting collapsed without resolution, leaving Last Ditch with fractured trust and financial crisis.
Soft Closure Announcement
Last Ditch announced its soft closure on October 26 after failing to save the venue.
Historical Lesbian Support
Women in Western Massachusetts built over 400 lesbian and feminist groups between 1968 and 1978 through community organizations like Common Womon Club.
Cooperative Model
Last Ditch plans to become a cooperative to share responsibilities and debt after Matellian's financial struggles.
What matters most
Last Ditch Bar, a lesbian venue in Greenfield, Massachusetts, plans to become a cooperative to share costs and responsibilities after financial struggles.
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