PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) - After 48 years in Portland, Embers dance club and bar is closing its doors. Embers opened in 1969 – one of just a handful of gay bars in the Portland area at the time. It quickly became a symbol of the local LGBTQ community, but it wasn’t long before the word got out about Embers’ epic dance parties and drag shows. Embers has since turned into a major staple of Portland’s entertainment scene for gay and straight people alike. According to the bar’s Facebook page, owner Steve Suss recently suffered a severe stroke and he is unable to keep Embers open. Iconic drag performers Poison Waters and Darcelle are close with Suss. Darcelle opened his club just two years before Embers. They say Portland is losing an important piece of history. “You know, people talk about a safe space,” Poison Waters remembered. “It was a safe space, not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, sexually. People could go there and just be free and be who they are in that location.” “The people we know that have started there, will never get it out of their hearts,“ said Darcelle. Embers’ final event was set to take place at 9:30 p.m. Thursday, called "The Last Dance." http://www.kptv.com/story/36967880/iconic-gay-night-club-embers-closing-its-doors-in-portland
After over 40 years as a bastion of gay culture at the edge of Old Town, dance club Embers announced last night it will close. The announcement came on the club's Facebook page. It's an unusually sudden end for such a storied venue in Portland, but it comes after the owner suffered what the club called a "massive stroke," leaving them unable to continue their business. The reaction was immediate and heartbroken on the club's Facebook page, with many patrons sharing their fond memories of Embers over the decades. "I hadn't been in there for fifteen years," wrote one patron. "The goldfish along the bar fish tank. Big Jim sitting at the end of the bar…who would come in from Molalla. The nightly lip synch show. The disco next door. Goth night Wednesdays. The nice piano. And a door patrol man named Howard Stern. Yep, that was his real name." "This is absolutely devastating to hear!" wrote another. "Steve and the Embers was always a support to me. Many of my first shows were there, proudly will always say I had been an Embers girl and hostess… so many great memories there. What a sad moment. My love to the Embers Family.Good evening everyone." There will be two more nights of Embers for those who want to pay their respects to a Portland institution. The doors will close for the last time at 2:30 am Thursday night. Here's the farewell message in full: I know this message comes in very short short notice. Unfortunately The Embers Avenue will be closing as of 2:30am on Friday morning. The main owner of our beloved club has had a massive stroke and we can no longer operate as a business We will be doing the Wednesday night show as normal and Thursday night , Onyx Lynn will be hosting the final Show of the bar. We would love to see a HUGE ASS turnout and see EVERYONE we love come out! Lets make this a night to remember! http://www.wweek.com/bars/news-bars...wn-gay-club-embers-will-close-thursday-night/
Curious line in one article, just sort of stuck in there? "Big Jim sitting at the end of the bar…who would come in from Molalla."
Went to a show at the Ash just last Saturday. I think it's one of, if not the last. Sad. Old Portland is dead. Been dead.
Anyone remember the Metro? I believe it used to sit where the Columbia store on broadway is now. It was a sunken food court where people would smoke and read Willamette Week lol. I was too young to go to bars back then so the Metro was my joint. That and Quest. And Upfront FX. Being under 21 in Portland SUCKED. I've tried to find pictures of the Metro online and I can't find any.
