Club Café
| Club Café | |
|---|---|
Interactive map of Club Café | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1983 |
| Owner | James Morgrage |
Previous owner | Frank Ribaudo |
| Location | 209 Columbus Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
| Coordinates | 42°20′54″N 71°04′21″W / 42.34839°N 71.07247°W |
| Website | www |
Club Café is a gay bar, restaurant and nightclub in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood, in the U.S. state of Massachusetts.[1] The bar was established in 1983.[2][3] Club Café is located in the historic Youth's Companion Building, also known as the Pledge of Allegiance Building, at 209 Columbus Avenue in Boston, Massachusetts.[4] The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the site where the Pledge of Allegiance was written and published.[4]
History
In 1983, after Ribaudo and friends were targeted for being gay at Back Bay Racquetball, they went on to open Metropolitan Health Club, a gay-friendly gym.[5] In the mid-1980s, Ribaudo and Joseph McAllster “opened Club Café as a place where members could gather after workouts”.[6]
Club Café was challenging to keep open in its first years due to discrimination against the gay community and the stigma of the HIV/AIDS crisis. Ribaudo stated that he was afraid of bankruptcy and didn’t make any profit in the first five years.[7] During the AIDS crisis Ribaudo used the club “to host community dinners, meetings, and group discussions for people to learn from each other, seek support, and research the latest treatments”.[8][9]
Ribaudo created a community support fund, donating all of Club Café’s money raised through coat checks and recycling to LGBTQIA sports leagues. According to the venue’s general manager, James Morgrage, Club Café donates $30,000 annually to sports leagues.[8]
McAllaster, died in 1993 of complications from AIDS at age 38. In 2026, Ribaudo died at 81 after being diagnosed with glioblastoma two years prior.[6][8]
References
- ↑ "Club Café, Boston's gay social hub, turns 30". Boston.com. Archived from the original on July 5, 2018. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
- ↑ "Club Café". Time Out Boston. Archived from the original on November 16, 2019. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
- ↑ Agnew, Meaghan (May 23, 2019). "The Best LGBTQ Bars in Boston". Thrillist. Archived from the original on November 16, 2019. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
- 1 2 LaMagdeleine, Izz Scott (February 7, 2023). "Is the Building Where Pledge of Allegiance Was Written Now a Nightclub?". Snopes. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
- ↑ Kish, Robin (2020-06-24). "How Boston's LGBTQ+ Venues Are Surviving The Shutdown - GO Magazine". Archived from the original on 2026-07-29. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
- 1 2 Genzer, Samantha (2026-07-09). "Club Café founder and vice president dies, the venue says". Boston.com. ISSN0743-1791. Archived from the original on 2026-07-29. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
- ↑ Kearnan, Scott (2013-09-13). "The Beat Goes On | Boston Spirit Magazine". Archived from the original on 2026-07-29. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
- 1 2 3 Thornton, Claire (2026-07-10). "Frank Ribaudo, founder of Boston's Club Cafe, dies at 81". The Boston Globe. ISSN 0743-1791. Archived from the original on 2026-07-29. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
- ↑ Officer, Development (2026-07-09). "A Sanctuary of Care: Remembering Frank Ribaudo and His Foundational Legacy at the Boston Living Center". Victory Programs. Archived from the original on 2026-07-29. Retrieved 2026-07-28.