Last Ditch Bar Timeline: From Viral Mask Mandate Controversy to Closure
Summary
Last Ditch, a lesbian bar in western Massachusetts, said it is closing to regular business immediately and will shut down completely this winter unless new owners or investors take over. The bar did not give a specific reason, but cited difficulty finding leaders for a planned worker-owned cooperative and had previously described financial struggles.Key Facts
- Last Ditch announced its soft closure in an Instagram post on Monday.
- The bar said it will open only for pre-arranged events while it seeks new owners or someone to take over.
- It said its equipment, furniture, improvements, social media accounts and inventory are worth about $70,000.
- Last Ditch opened in 2025 and required visitors to wear KN-95 masks or better.
- In August, the bar announced that Saturday nights would become mask-optional, prompting intense criticism from some patrons and online commenters.
- The bar apologized and held a public accountability session in early September.
- Owner Jackie Matellian said during that session that she was living in her car and struggling to repay a $50,000 business-related loan.
- The bar said it had not found a board or leadership team to manage its planned worker-owned cooperative.
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