Not only has the pandemic made California bars, restaurants and clubs shut down if barely survive at all but West Hollywood hasn’t had a true LGBT dance club since Factory shut down. There may actually be some good news on the horizon for infamously shut down Weho clubs and bars throughout this pandemic. NSYNC and LGBT Icon Lance Bass has signed a lease to rent the space that RAGE nightclub occupied for 37 years.
Located on the northwest corner of Santa Monica and San Vicente boulevards in the heart of the Weho entertainment district, the Rage space is already being gutted for renovations. This is one of the biggest venues in Weho with a much larger dance space than the Abbey Church or anything since the Factory building was given up to developers.
Bass is also a partner in Rocco’s restaurant/lounge across the rainbow walkway on Santa Monica Blvd. Some others on board with Rocco’s are partnering with him on this venture.
There are currently promos appearing on Instagram announcing “the biggest gay nightclub in the USA is coming to WeHo this year” and we are very excited to finally see the strip get a re-modeled RAGE venue!!
Kudos to Lance Bass for continuing to revitalize West Hollywood nightlife, attempting to replace what has been lost. It takes people willing to step up and invest, we need more like him. Looking forward to what they will create.
RAGE announced in September 2020 that it was closing permanently. Rage owners Robert Maghame and Saeed Sattari reported they were shuttering as they unable to come to terms on a new lease.
RAGE had been losing steam for years and the pandemic was the final straw. Back in the day it was known for the only 18 to enter club on the strip for many years and you would see an hours long line for events such as New Year’s Eve or the Halloween Block Party. We have no word on whether it will be an 18 and up club.
RAGE was not the only bar to shut down for good during the pandemic. The gayborhood lost the Flaming Saddles country-western bar and Gold Coast neighborhood bar.
The same landlord that owns RAGE owns the building where Gym Bar will be opening this summer but may still be looking for other bar spaces to fill after the closures. The new Stache restaurant/nightclub is also a new LGBT venue that will be opening a block west of the RAGE location.
We have yet to hear an official name for the club but feel it could be called “Weho MegaClub.” We also have no information on whether it will be open for after-hours to compete with Micky’s down the street.
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