# Last Ditch Bar's Survival Plan

> Lesbian bar Last Ditch faces closure but community model offers path to survival.
- Title: Last Ditch Bar's Survival Plan · Bon Appétit | Shortify
- Summary: Lesbian bar Last Ditch faces closure but community model offers path to survival.
- Keywords: last ditch bar, lesbian bar, greenfield massachusetts, cooperative business, womonfyre books, common womon club, kn95 masks, financial crisis, community support, lesbian social spaces, Bon Appétit
- Source: Bon Appétit — https://bonappetit.com/story/viral-last-ditch-bar-how-to-keep-lesbian-bars-alive
- Author: Tara Knight
- Published: 2026-11-06T16:42:53.215+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: last ditch bar, lesbian bar, greenfield massachusetts, cooperative business, womonfyre books, common womon club, kn95 masks, financial crisis, community support, lesbian social spaces, food, lifestyle
## 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.
## Key takeaway

Last Ditch Bar, a lesbian venue in Greenfield, Massachusetts, plans to become a cooperative to share costs and responsibilities after financial struggles.