Massachusetts lesbian bar's mask-optional Saturday night faces last-minute cancellation

Greenfield, Massachusetts – Last Ditch Bar, a lesbian-focused venue that announced a weekly mask-optional night to attract customers, announced at the last minute that the Saturday event would be restricted to a private audience due to unspecified safety breaches. Patrons who arrived after 7 p.m. were asked to return at 10 p.m., and those who came later were told they could enter only if they could name a person already inside. Staff also required guests to surrender identification, which was returned at the end of the night.

The bar, which opened last year and has operated under a mandatory N-95 mask policy, said the change was intended to boost business six years after the COVID-19 pandemic began. The decision sparked strong reactions on social media, with some users accusing the venue of endangering disabled patrons.

"It just feels off-putting," said Pete, 43, a resident of nearby Northampton. "I thought it would be more inclusive for me to go on Saturdays," said Patricia Sonaike, 24, a UMass Amherst student.

The basement space features a checkered dance floor, a stripper pole, anime projections and neon lighting. Inside, pamphlets on rapid antigen testing, queer liberation and workers' rights remain on display, and a free “store” offers N-95 masks. Regular programming includes a monthly masked speed-dating night that also offers a virtual option.

Owner Jackie Matellian, the sole remaining co-founder, has spoken publicly about the bar’s financial challenges, including a $50,000 loan and personal hardship. She described the venture as not being her original passion project and expressed uncertainty about her management performance.