PORTLAND, Ore. — Embers Avenue has been on the corner of Northwest Couch and Broadway in Portland for nearly four decades. The bar closed a few years ago, but now, it’s back open and still serving the LGBTQ+ community.
The club reopened under a new name on Wednesday night: the Badlands Video Dance Bar.
“Since we acquired it, it has been a process of about six years," said general manager Trent Cross. "The amount of energy has been off and on, but for the last two years, we have been hammering away to get this place ready for the Portland community.”
Cross said construction has been slow over the last six years, but it has really picked up over the last two years.
“It’s been a lot of work to renovate this space. We’ve made a lot of upgrades structurally; inside, it’s beautiful: lots of lights, a lot going on,” Cross added.
The new club might have a different name, but just like Embers, it’s going to be a place where everyone is welcome.
“One, it’s a lot of pressure. A lot of people loved Embers; they grew up with it, and we want to honor that," Cross said. "While we might be different, we want to provide the same safe place for all of our queer friends to have fun at.”
A place that was known for so many years in the Portland community will now be another place to make new memories.
Cross said even though the new club will open Wednesday night, they are hoping to have a bigger celebration in the near future to celebrate the new bar.