Business claims necessary upgrades, state claims bar hosted lewd activities
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An LGBTQ bar that’s been a Cathedral City mainstay for more than three decades announced it’s closing this week amid a battle with the city over rules and occupancy issues. The Barracks’ closure also comes months after allegations emerged that it violated the terms of its state liquor license by hosting lewd acts.
The owners say they plan to relocate the bar to Phoenix and expand to other cities.
The Barracks has catered to the LGBTQ leather subculture since it first opened under the name “WOLF’s” in a huge warehouse-like space near the Cathedral City-Palm Springs border. On its website, the store advertises that it’s known for its large, boisterous “Sunday Beer Bust” parties and also hosts a variety of themed events.
A statement was posted on The Barracks’ website and social media pages on Wednesday saying the bar would close at the end of business on Sunday, August 4.
“We want to thank the LGBTQ+ community for the support, love, connection and friendship over the past 31 years,” the statement read. “It has been an incredible honor and privilege to serve you.”
The statement also said the state plans to revoke the bar’s liquor license the following day, Aug. 5.
The California Department of Beverage Control’s website shows the agency filed a lawsuit in June over alleged lewd conduct at The Barracks.
A spokesperson for the department confirmed that the department’s investigation into the bar is ongoing after receiving complaints from the public, adding that no final disciplinary action has been taken, meaning it’s not accurate to say that the bar’s liquor license will be revoked on August 5.
In response to a question from The Desert Sun, The Barracks responded via its Facebook account that it had no comment beyond the social media post.
The closure was announced just days after owner Scott Murchison posted on the same Facebook page that he wanted to “clear up some misunderstandings and set the record straight” about “wild rumours” that had been circulating about the bar’s fate.
Murchison wrote that the city is asking the bar to reduce its customer numbers and spend more than $100,000 to renovate the aging building. He wrote that the bar is in negotiations with government officials and is also exploring opportunities to expand The Barracks into Arizona, Florida and Georgia. He asked fans of the bar to “stay tuned” for many exciting upcoming events in the Coachella Valley and beyond.
Mayor Charlie McClendon said it was not true that the city had reduced the bar’s capacity. “The legal occupancy of this building has always been no more than 49 people. If occupancy exceeds that number, the bar is operating at above its permitted capacity. The city has never ordered a bar to close due to capacity issues,” he said in a statement.
McClendon added that the city is in discussions with the restaurant about how to increase its legal capacity to 400 people. The process requires the restaurant to submit plans by late July and complete renovations by late December. The city received some of those renovation plans just this week, McClendon wrote.
He said the improvements the city required of the building, such as sprinklers, exit signs and “emergency hardware” on exit doors, are common in larger facilities and that such local requirements are permitted under state building and fire codes.
McClendon expressed particular concern about what he has seen as allegations of the city harassing LGBTQ-oriented businesses. He cited several ways the city shows its support for LGBTQ businesses, residents and customers, including the annual observation of LGBT Day and LGBTQ liaisons in both the mayor’s office and the police department.
McClendon added that the city’s police, fire and code enforcement departments have never entered the bar except to respond to a call for service. He said data from July 2023 shows the establishment has had 16 calls for medical assistance, one call for code enforcement regarding noise and 39 calls for police regarding noise complaints, theft, public intoxication and other issues common to bars and other establishments.
“I am proud to work in a Cathedral City that embraces and supports our LGBTQ residents, employees, and businesses,” McClendon wrote, adding, “It is my greatest hope that Barracks will resolve its issues with California ABC and be able to continue operations. If not, I wish them the best of luck in whatever endeavor they pursue next.”
