Denver’s Boyztown Closes Its Doors for Good

Denver gay nightclub Boyztown on 117 Broadway is closing its doors after years of serving the LGBTQ+ community. According to an article in Westword, nothing but a white piece of paper with the word “CLOSED” was taped to the black doors of Denver’s oldest gay cabaret bar after nearly 20 years of business. 

Across the street from the historic Mayan Theater on South Broadway, Boyztown featured an all-male lineup of dancers six days a week and a weekly amateur stripper night where anyone could take the stage. During the day, it functioned as an all-ages neighborhood bar with a mixed crowd. Randy Long purchased the club in 2005 and turned the nightclub’s reputation as a notorious and seedy drug spot into Denver’s “hottest male revue.”

Boyztown has been a staple in Denver’s gay community for decades before closing. Over the last century, the building served as an underground club for various forms of nighttime debauchery. In the 1920s, behind the doors at 117 Broadway was a speakeasy before it became a club sometime in the 50s. By the 1970s, Boyztown was known for its adult male entertainment shows for gay men in the city. 

It’s unclear what caused Boyztown to close its doors officially. An unofficial source attributed the closure to unresolved issues with the landlord; however, patrons were unhappy with the influx of bachelorette parties that seemed to dominate the club’s culture as of late. To combat this, Long began charging a $5-a-head table reservation fee for bachelorette parties in exchange for “free” shots once the women arrived.

While there was no official announcement on social media, the Facebook page now reads “permanently closed.” The domain for the Boyztown website is no longer registered, and the sign outside the building offers no further explanation.

Boyztown isn’t the only gay bar that has struggled to keep its doors open amidst rising prices in the Denver metro area. Bad Habits, a “cozy neighborhood LGBTQIA+ all-inclusive bar and eatery” on Colfax is also closing after two years in business. While Billie and Tony, the owners of Bad Habits, are planning a comeback with a new location, it’s no coincidence that both bars are closing within one month of each other. 

LGBTQ+ clubs face far greater economic challenges than their straight-owned counterparts. According to a study conducted by the Movement Advancement Project in 2021, about seven in ten LGBTQ+ owned businesses reported difficulties paying for their operating expenses. LGBTQ+ businesses are more likely to be suffering from financial difficulties and are more likely to face obstacles to accessing financing and emergency assistance.

Photo courtesy of social media