The Cost of Tolerance: Denver's Beloved LGBTQ+ Bar Falls Victim to Permissive Homeless Encampments

Denver, known for its progressive and inclusive attitude, is facing a devastating blow as one of their most beloved LGBTQ+ bars, the Triangle Bar, is forced to shut its doors due to the city’s permissive stance on homeless encampments.

Despite efforts by the bar to raise awareness and pressure the city to take corrective action, little has been done to address the issue. The closure of the bar is a stark reminder that even in a city known for its progressive attitudes, the growing encampments of mentally ill and drug addicted homeless are causing harm and disruption to the community.

The Triangle Bar’s management stated that they were injecting funds regularly into the bar just to keep the doors open. But with no end in sight to the encampments, they have reached their breaking point.

The Triangle Bar on North Broadway in Denver, Colorado, on Thursday October 5, 2023. The bar announced it was closing. Facebook

In an email to its customers, the Triangle Bar cited the “ever-expanding encampments” as the primary reason for its sudden closure. A survey conducted by the bar found that over 60% of its customers visited less frequently due to the encampments. And this decline in business is not just a minor inconvenience, as the survey also revealed that 75% of customers visited the bar less in 2023 compared to the previous year.

It is alarming to see that the encampments are having such a significant impact on even extremely liberal businesses, such as the Triangle Bar. In the survey, 61.4% of respondents stated that the encampments and safety concerns were negatively influencing their interest in visiting the bar.

This closure not only has a financial impact, but also an emotional one, as the bar has been a safe and welcoming space for the LGBTQ+ community. The owners have reached the end of their patience and resources, and it is a tragic loss for both the community and the city as a whole.

Denver must now face the consequences of its permissive attitude towards these encampments, as even successful and cherished businesses are being forced to shut down. The closure of the Triangle Bar should serve as a wake-up call to the city to take decisive action and address this pressing issue before more businesses are forced to suffer the same fate.