PORTLAND, Ore. — After being in danger of shutting down, Darcelle XV, Portland's iconic drag venue, will remain open under new ownership, the showplace announced Monday.
"We are beyond thrilled to share that under new ownership, our doors will remain open!!!," Darcelle XV Showplace said in a social media post on Monday. "In 2025, Darcelle XV & Co will celebrate 58 years in business!!"
Not much is known about the new ownership, though Darcelle XV Showplace said an official announcement will be forthcoming.
The venue, named after the legendary Portland drag queen Darcelle XV, is an institution in Old Town. Maridee and Walter Cole Jr. Woodson, the children of Walter Cole, who performed as Darcelle XV until he died last year at age 92, took over as owners.
Maridee Woodson told KGW that it was her father's wish for them to keep the club going. But in August, she said business had dropped and the club was at risk of closing. She said that with her father passing, "he's not a draw anymore," and that the reputation of Old Town and Portland was in part to blame, along with inflation and other post-COVID challenges.
Walter Cole held the Guinness World Record as the world's oldest performing drag queen. It's unclear with the new ownership whether Walter Cole's children will still be involved.
