Syracuse, N.Y. — Rain Lounge, one of Central New York’s best known gay bars, is closing for good after struggling to keep afloat during the Covid 19 pandemic.
Owner Duke Epolito announced the decision Thursday on social media, prompting outpourings of support from long-time fans of the 20-year-old club.
“Thank you for everything,” one commenter posted after seeing the news. “Rain always felt like home. So much love.”
Rain opened in 2001 at the corner of Herald Place and North Franklin Street, just down from the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. It moved to its current location at 105 N. Geddes St., near Erie Boulevard West, in 2011. The building is now listed for sale.
In 2013, Out Magazine listed Rain as one of the top 200 gay bars in the world, and it was the only one in New York state outside of New York City.
“Syracuse lounge Rain caters to a diverse crowd of college kids, lesbians, drag queens, and other queers which ‘defy categorization,’ ” the editors of Out wrote.
“I’m so proud that we were recognized like that,” Epolito said today. “It was always our goal to be welcoming to everyone.”
“It’s a place where girls can dance and not be hassled,” he told syracuse.com in 2011. “It’s eclectic.”
Epolito recognizes that closing Rain may leave a gap in the local club scene (though there are other gay and gay-friendly bars in town).
He said he’s proud of the role Rain played in the LGBTQ community.
He remembers receiving a letter a few years ago from a girl who had visited Rain one night.
“She had been struggling with her identity, her sexual identity and was considering suicide,” Epolito said. “But after she came to Rain, she felt welcomed, and more positive about herself. She told me her visit to Rain changed her outlook. I’m so glad we were able to provide that space, and that comfort.”
Rain had only opened “intermittently” during much of the pandemic, Epolito said. But it has been closed since November, just before Gov. Andrew Cuomo placed the city in an orange zone, prohibiting indoor dining and drinking. (That ban was lifted, at least temporarily, Thursday).
Although the bar was known as place for people to dance, mingle and socialize, Epolito said it was never found in violation of any of the Covid 19 safety protocols when it was open.
“The state task force (enforcing the protocols) came in every single day that we were open,” he said. “But they never found anything wrong. We followed all the guidelines.”
Epolito said the state restrictions made it difficult to operate.
“I don’t want to be political,” he said. ‘I can’t imagine how hard it is to be the governor and make these decisions. But I don’t think he understood how hard this is for a small business.”
In his social media posts announcing the closing, Epolito wrote:
“What our Governor will never understand is that a small business is like a child to its owner. Rain is the only daughter I will ever know. She was an amazing baby a true learning lesson while a toddler and as teen she was fiercely independent. I’m so grateful to watch her grow into adult hood. I will love my baby forever and all those who helped raise her. I hope her memory brings you a smile.”
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Don Cazentre write for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.
