Petrelis Files

Gentrification May End New SF Gay Sex Club & Old Glory Hole Arcade 

Back in June 2012, I reported on what was supposed to be just a temporary closure of the Mack Prison sex space on Folsom Street near 9th, to a new location in the South of Market area. The owner had passed away and the landlord ended the lease but the survivors of the owner promised on a now-closed web site that they would reopen nearby in a short period. Didn't happen.

(The two adult sex spaces at 960 and 962 Folsom Street, before The Brig opened for business. Public domain photo.)

Commercial spaces for consenting queer males to gather for sexual liaisons may suffer another loss in a few months. Thanks to Jim Provenzano editor of the BAR Tab rag, details are coming out about another negative impact on San Francisco because of the rampant march to build more new condos for the tech class. From Jim's article:

Only a few months after it opened, South of Market's newest sex club may have to move, as gentrification swiftly turns the once-cruisy bar district into open season for even more pricey residential housing.

Scott Morris, co-owner of The Brig, confirmed that the owners of the building at 962 Folsom Street have sold the property, and the building will possibly be demolished to make room for residential housing. [...]

Morris, who heard about the building's sale two weeks ago, said, "I know we'll be in there through June. We have enough visitors to keep promoting the events, and to keep the idea going. And we're looking for other venues." The building sale is indicative of a larger issue that Morris raised about the once-active gay bar and nightclub scene in SoMa.


"South of Market is losing its identity," he said. "A couple of buildings away, some large condo complexes keep going up. It's sad, because we're losing it block by block."

Morris is speaking much truth and I salute him for taking a chance on giving gay kinksters a comfortable playspace. Wishing him all the best for supportive patronage and staying in business if he's force to vacate the premises in the summer.

It's not just the potential of losing The Brig but also the separate glory hole arcade on the first floor of the building that may cease to provide much needed services to the horny homosexuals.

Sure, they may find other locations in which to operate for the thousands of gays who aren't into using online hookup sites or apps, but given how we've lost the bathhouses, the back room institution My Place and Mack Prison, and probably other clubs I can't recall right now, I won't hold my breath on that happening.

Please visit your local commercial queer sex space today, get off with a buddy or two or three, and keep bricks-and-mortar gay playspaces alive and thriving.