Das Haus, a Lincoln LGBTQ+ bar and community gathering space, announced its closure Wednesday night following a 2-1 vote among its owners to accept a sale offer. The bar's last day open will be Sunday.
In a Facebook post Wednesday night, co-owner Bryan Ruhs wrote that the decision was not made lightly, especially given the timing.
"For the last nine years, Das Haus has been more than just a bar. It has been a home, a safe space, a stage, a family, and a place where so many people, both within and outside the LGBTQ+ community, have found connection, acceptance, and belonging," Ruhs wrote.
Ruhs wrote that he isn't ready to give up and is exploring options to either purchase the business back or open a new venue.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help Ruhs either buy back the business or open a new venue. As of Thursday afternoon, the campaign raised nearly $5,000 of its $140,000 goal.
Paige Patton, a longtime patron who helped organize the fundraiser, said the closure will force performers and community members to reimagine where they gather.
"People are going to have to re-pivot — where they want to have events, where they want to do shows, where they can showcase their art. It is going to be hard for everybody," Patton said.
Patton and her partner recently produced the musical “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” at Das Haus and said losing the space hits close to home artistically.
"We were excited to continue putting on shows like that and telling different queer stories. Now it's going to be a little harder. We're still going to do it, obviously, but that was such a space that was so welcoming and so perfectly set up for that," Patton said.
Patton also framed the closure in a broader political context, noting that many in the LGBTQ+ community are already feeling vulnerable.
"With the current political climate, with so many bills being passed and people feeling like there is no one out there to protect them or make them feel safe — having Das Haus continue to operate, whether it be in that current location or a new location, that'll be the safe haven," Patton said.
Ryan Ostendorf, a Das Haus MC and Star City Pride vice president who has been part of Lincoln's queer community for 15 years, said the loss is felt acutely in a city where such spaces are rare.
"Lincoln is so small, it has one of everything. If you lose any of those items, there's a loss there because they're only a very specific niche. It's not like we've got five clubs that we all go to. Each one has its intention and its purpose," Ostendorf said.
Ostendorf said Das Haus outlasted expectations, and that Lincoln's queer community has dealt with similar closures before.
"Das Haus beat the stereotype and has been around longer than anyone would expect. Just as the Q, Karma, or even the Panic have gone, something always comes in its place," Ostendorf said.
Victor Garza, who said he was one of the first two customers to ever walk through Das Haus' doors, has since become a longtime performer and weekly presence at the bar. He said his relationship with his now-fiancé began there.
"This was the big headquarters for everybody," Garza said.
Garza described what set Das Haus apart from other venues, pointing to the dedication of its owner.
"The amount of time and effort and money that Bryan had put into that space — with the lighting, the sound, the effects — he was also working a full-time job at the time, and he would still make time for everybody to come to rehearsals and build sets. You don't get that anywhere," Garza said.
Garza's voice broke as he reflected on what the bar meant to him and the community.
"Das Haus is the kind of place that you would make everlasting memories and relationships with people that you'll never forget. And the chosen family that will bring you together for the rest of your life. There will never be a place like Das Haus," Garza said.
Despite the pain of the closure, Garza said he remains hopeful about the community's future.
"The queer community has always persevered, and we will find a way. We're not going to let this knock us down," Garza said.
Das Haus has events scheduled through Sunday, including Thursday’s karaoke night that is free and open to the public.