Lumber Yard Bar
Lumber Yard Bar is a gay bar in White Center, in the U.S. state of Washington. Nathan Adams and Michale Farrar opened the bar in 2018. The business relocated in 2021, the result of arson.
Description
The lumberjack-themed, queer-friendly Lumber Yard Bar operates along 16th Avenue Southwest in White Center. The interior has sanded wood and a skylight with planted succulents.In 2018, Christopher Frizzelle of The Stranger wrote: "Logs are omnipresent: logs wrapped around the cords of Edison bulbs, logs chained to walls, log benches, log stools, log pictures, etc. The menu includes 'wood pellets' and a mashed potato bar."
History
The LGBTQ-owned bar opened in January 2018. It claims to be, and has been described as, White Center's first gay bar. Owned by Nathan Adams and Michale Farrar, Lumber Yard has hosted drag shows, show tune sing-alongs, and viewing parties for television shows such as RuPaul's [Drag Race All Stars]. As of 2023, Lumber Yard hosted lesbian karaoke as well as 'tacos and trivia' weekly, and has a monthly event dedicated to kink.A fire in July 2021, later classified as arson, forced the business to close and relocate. The owners called the incident a hate crime. A GoFundMe fundraising campaign led by White Center Pride was successful in raising $100,000 for Lumber Yard. In 2022, the bar hosted an Mpox vaccine clinic in collaboration with local public health officials.
In January 2024, Lumber Yard was one of several bars raided by the Joint Enforcement Team, a coalition of Seattle Police, Fire, and the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board, among other groups. The raid prompted a backlash and a policy review.