The SoDo-based Queer club The Comeback recently closed its doors after being open for a little over a year. On April 30 the club held its final dance following a Facebook post indicating the closure, but many are still curious about the nature of the club's end.
The Comeback's final post states, "What a blast we have had! You have been with us since the beginning, first at R Place, and then followed us to the Comeback. We survived a pandemic and came out stronger! Now, as we look back at how we helped shape a vibrant community in Seattle, we realize that it is time for us to step aside and let the new generation of DJs, entertainers, and fans continue making Seattle's LGBTQIA+ community the best it can be. A sunset of the Comeback is only the prelude to brighter times to come. We look forward to seeing what is in store for Seattle. Thank you for all your support over the years."
A few weeks prior to the club shutting its doors, an internet argument between ex-Q Nightclub owner C. Scott Smith and Lashes host Howard Russell, whose stage name is Ladie Chablis, led patrons of The Comeback to assume that the club would be closing. According to an article in Seattle Gay Scene, Smith wrote a detailed post alleging that the owners of The Comeback were guilty of placing fraudulent charges on credit card bills and improperly filling out a loan application from the Small Business Administration. However, Smith did not include proof of these allegations in his post.
"It felt like it was character assassination on those guys' parts by bringing all this information now, with no receipts yet," Russell said in response to the allegations. "The only complaints that I can ever think the patrons had was probably maybe the pricing of the drinks, but they complain about that everywhere."
As of May 8, 2023, there are two Google reviews of the establishment from a year ago that indicate fraudulent credit charges, but the owners replied to both. Despite the complaints about the club, The Comeback still managed to have a 3.6 rating on Google and dedicated patrons.
The SGN has reached out to The Comeback for comment, but has not received a reply.
Another issue that has come up about the club is its SoDo location, a mostly industrial neighborhood with a few clubs scattered about. It's a far cry from densely packed Capitol Hill.
"[The owners] couldn't get the crowd to come in like they anticipated," Russell said. "A lot of it had a lot to do with parking. Because having sports like the Seahawks and the Mariners game [made it] hard for people to [park]. On top of that, [for] most people that I'm aware of, it was hard for them to get from Capitol Hill to SoDo."
While the club has met its end, Seattle's Queer community continues to look forward. For instance, despite the closure of The Comeback, the Lashes drag show has found a new home at Unicorn on Capitol Hill, beginning June 2.