San Francisco drag landmark Oasis to close by year end

Axios

21 hours ago

Oasis, San Francisco's beloved drag nightclub, will permanently close at the end of the year after more than a decade of serving as a cultural hub for queer nightlife.
Why it matters: The closure marks the end of an era for one of the city's most celebrated LGBTQ+ venues — a space that launched careers, created a devoted community and spotlighted drag and queer performers.
Driving the news: The closure, announced Monday, comes as the club has struggled with attendance post-pandemic, as well as rising costs and declining bar sales.
Owner D'Arcy Drollinger had to tap into his retirement savings to keep the business afloat, he told Axios.
"There is a strong community; it's just not enough. It breaks my heart," he said.
Zoom in: Oasis has anchored a number of over-the-top parties and community events, and it produced campy originals in a genre Drollinger brands "Vaudeville 2.0," with titles such as " Sh*t & Champagne," " Reparations" and most recently " Jurassiq Parq."
Since opening in 2014, numerous high-profile drag artists, including Snaxx and Nicki Jizz, and celebrity guests including Cher, Anderson Cooper and Jane Fonda have made appearances.
What they're saying: Peaches Christ, an internationally renowned drag queen, told Axios she's "absolutely gutted."
"(D'Arcy's) team built something truly vital to San Francisco's queer culture — uplifting talent, entertaining endlessly and giving both artists and patrons a home. It's hard to imagine the city without it," she said.
Zoom out: While the brick-and-mortar at 298 11th St. may be closing, Oasis Arts — the nonprofit arm of the club — will continue to carry on the legacy with shows at other Bay Area venues next year, per Drollinger, who is also the city's first Drag Laureate.
Claire's thought bubble: Losing Oasis — which has been such a huge part of my life — feels like losing a piece of San Francisco's heart.
Since first going in 2021, I've laughed and cried in those four walls, staged two shows and met lifelong friends.