New Lesbian Bar Finally Opens In Western Massachusetts
Finally, a place for lesbians in Western Massachusetts!
Last Ditch—a lesbian bar, performance venue, and community space—opened its doors in Greenfield last week after a long and unexpectedly difficult journey.
Last November, the co-owners of Last Ditch—Asa Rosario, Jackie Matellian, and Sage Territo—announced their bar for “Dykes, Transexuals, Gender Freaks, Workers, and their friends” would be opening in the basement of 10 Fiske Ave. Originally, the bar was set to open on New Year’s Eve, but that early date was sadly pushed back due to a “legal barrier.” The owners revealed they encountered issues obtaining a liquor license, forcing all their planned events to be postponed. Rather than be bogged down by this disappointment, Rosario, Matellian, and Territo looked on the bright side, saying that a later opening date would give them more time to perfect their programming and create their space.
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As of Thursday night, the bar is officially up and running and already churning out a variety of event programming. The owners promise alternative burlesque, film screenings, karaoke, a Wicked drag show, and more. Last Ditch plans to include all-ages events, as well as 18+ and 21+ events, so the entire community can get in on the fun. A tentative weekly schedule includes live music on Fridays, a “Random” day on Thursdays, and “Quiet Nites” on Tuesdays, which will be a chance for people to gather without loud music, harsh lights, or a club-like atmosphere.
The bar also includes a “free store,” according to the Greenfield Reporter. The store provides clothing, safe sex supplies, lesbian magazines, harm reduction information, and COVID protection equipment—all free of cost for the community. The bar owners say no one will be turned away from Last Ditch, and that the unhoused community will be welcome.
“Anyone can come and drink water, use the bathroom, use our resources, regardless of access to funds,” Territo told the Greenfield Reporter, “and it’s because we want to care for people as they have cared for us.”
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The bar’s interior has an eclectic, quirky feel. Plastic chairs acquired from a local church sit beside mismatched tables, and a variety of wall decor and random pieces (including an out-of-order ATM painted pink and decorated with fake eyelashes) adorn the space. Matellian and Territo say they found most of the pieces on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or on the side of the road.
“Across the country, we’re seeing more and more lesbian bars pop up again as people are realizing that connecting to larger community is really important, and we knew that there were people in this area who were really craving that sort of space,” Rosario told the Reporter.
“There’s something unique and cool about Greenfield,” Territo added. “It fell into place because we were dreaming of the idea of opening a venue and how we could make it a fun place and supportive of the arts, and we just got lucky that a really great opportunity arose.”
Whether you’re coming for the shows or just looking to grab a drink, the owners have a few rules in place: have fun, be kind, and build community. Last Ditch also stresses that non-lesbians will be welcome in the bar, as long as they are respectful of the lesbian community that is at the “center of its mission.” All forms of discrimination, including racism, misogyny, and transphobia, will not be tolerated, and verbal consent is mandatory for all interactions. The bar also has strict COVID policies in place to protect the community, including requiring masks for everyone and COVID testing for performers.
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Last Ditch will be closed on Sundays and Mondays. The bar area will be open 7 pm-12 am Tuesday-Thursday, and open until 1 am on Friday and Saturday. The community center, which will be coming soon, will be open 4 pm-6 pm Tuesday-Saturday.
