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Brooklyn’s queer nightlife scene is losing another cherished dance floor. The Rosemont, the divey East Williamsburg bar that has spent nearly a decade hosting drag shows, DJs and gloriously sweaty late-night parties, appears to have closed for good.
The bar announced Thursday that it had been closed for the past week and would “unfortunately likely not” reopen in a permanent physical capacity. That wording leaves open a sliver of hope for The Rosemont’s future in some form—but regulars should not expect the doors at 63 Montrose Avenue to swing open again for business as usual.
There should be time for one last dance, however. The Rosemont’s team says it is planning an official “closing night blowout,” with a possible farewell night or full weekend in the works. No date or lineup has been revealed yet, but the event is expected to bring together the performers, staff members, friends and loyal partygoers who helped turn the little bar into a Brooklyn nightlife fixture.
“Please stay tuned to this space for an official update,” the bar wrote. “We love you all so much!”
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The bar’s scrappy, basement-house-party atmosphere made it an important alternative to Brooklyn’s larger and slicker queer venues. It offered local queens and DJs a stage while giving LGBTQ+ New Yorkers a place to dance, mingle and find community, often until 4 am. The intimate venue had a cramped dance floor, interior booths and a backyard for catching your breath. Its calendar regularly included Friday and Saturday dance nights, Sunday drag shows, Monday karaoke and viewing parties for RuPaul’s Drag Race and Dragula.
The abrupt closure has also left dozens of employees without reliable income, according to a GoFundMe organized by Luis Fernando. Donations will be divided among affected workers to help cover rent, daily expenses and other essentials while they search for new employment.
A date for The Rosemont’s closing celebration is still forthcoming. Anyone hoping to squeeze onto that dance floor (or claim one final backyard breather) should watch the bar’s Instagram account for details.