Crush Dance Bar
Gay bar · U Street ·
LGBTQ+ dance club with specialty crushes, DJs, balcony
LGBTQ+ dance club with specialty crushes, DJs, balcony
"An LGBTQ+-friendly hangout with a popular back patio, the bar saw a 50-percent drop in Friday sales; "Washingtonians leaving the city to avoid the chaos on top of a reduction of tourism is crippling small businesses," co-owner Mark Rutstein said." - Tierney Plumb
"Located in the old Owl Room space, stylish Crush Bar has (nearly) everything: a summer garden balcony splashed with vibrant, fruit-themed murals; an upstairs bar with TVs and well-made cocktails (including orange crushes, obviously) and plenty of room to chat; a semi-private room thickly hung with disco balls; and a dimly lit, DJ-fueled downstairs dance floor with a stage and bar." - Evan Caplan
"A foundational queer bar that will close at the end of 2024 after 23 years in business, the decision followed a fraught period: at the end of 2023 the venue announced it would close before narrowly avoiding that fate through an investment from a staff member intended to allow owner John “Woody” Clarke to retire, but dwindling sales made a future less possible. The venue also had a contentious moment in 2020 when police shut down an employee protest demanding payment for accrued sick days and guaranteed rehires after reopening; after a complaint was filed with the National Labor Relations Board, Clarke settled with the employees. In announcing the 2024 closure, a representative wrote, “The decision to close is ultimately motivated by Woody’s retirement from the bar industry in combination with a rough economic climate,” and added, “It is the end of an era and sad to lose another queer bar in a time going forward when we all need community the most.”" - Rebecca Roland
"I noted that Crush Bar has had a close call with closure in recent years." - Rebecca Roland
"Operating for 13 years and named after D.C. native Marvin Gaye, Marvin was known for its crowded roof deck and raucous DJ nights until COVID-19 shut the bistro and bar down; three years after that closure the space has been transformed into the Owl Room, a separate venue and brand-new concept overseen in part by Marvin’s returning co-owner Eric Hilton." - Tierney Plumb
