The Clock Is Ticking To Save The Ruby Fruit, LA’s Beloved Lesbian Bar
The Ruby Fruit isn’t going down without a fight.
The Ruby Fruit was forced to shut its doors last month due to financial strain caused by the devastating California wildfires. After just over a year of serving as a queer community hub, the Silverlake lesbian wine bar is now racing against the clock to reopen.
Owners Emily Bielagus and Mara Herbkersman are determined to bring The Ruby Fruit back to life and secure the funding they need before their lease obligations catch up with them.
In a conversation with Marketplace host Kai Ryssdal, Bielagus and Herbkersman laid out the financial hurdles that led them to their heartbreaking decision. The wildfires, which forced the bar to close for a week, were just the tipping point.
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“When no money comes in, you don’t have any money,” Bielagus explained bluntly. Herbkersman added that economic challenges began even earlier, during the Hollywood strikes in 2023 when the entire LA restaurant industry saw a slowdown.
The Ruby Fruit opened in early 2023 to great excitement. But despite its packed seats and loyal patrons, the bar’s financial foundation was precarious. As Herbkersman put it, “Labor is expensive as it should be… but the cost of food, the cost of rent, the cost of utilities, all these things are really expensive right now.”
A full liquor license might have helped—the venue only served wine and beer—but licenses alone can cost upwards of $150,000, not including necessary renovations to the bar.
Despite the financial struggles, The Ruby Fruit had a profound impact. In a city with few dedicated lesbian spaces, the bar was an instant hit.
“The space and the community and the needs of all of that became so much larger than we thought,” Bielagus said, adding, “If you look around, there’s about 30 seats here.”
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As The Ruby Fruit looks for ways to reopen, one challenge is securing funding without placing the burden solely on its queer patrons. “It’s important to note that the Ruby Fruit cannot ride on the backs of a marginalized community, and it is necessary that we offer seats at the table to folks outside of our community so that they can support a queer space,” Herbkersman emphasized.
Herbkersman and Bielagus are also seeking support from within their community. On Thursday, they announced a fundraising event in partnership with the Los Angeles LGBT Center featuring The L Word: Gen Q’s Jacqueline Toboni, comedian Ever Mainard, activist Janaya Future Khan, and more special guests. “If you’re able, join us for an unforgettable night- because queer spaces don’t save themselves, ya’ll,” they wrote in the caption for the February 22 “Leather and Lace” invite.
The owners have until the end of March to find an investor or financial backing. “We are really on a very limited time frame here,” Herbkersman admitted. “I know that we can garner support from our community. I know that we can somehow find this money. But I’m worried that we can’t do all of these things in time.”
To make it happen, Bielagus and Herbkersman are calling on anyone who believes in the importance of lesbian spaces to help. Whether through investment, donations, or spreading the word, they’re hoping to rally enough support to bring The Ruby Fruit back—and stronger than ever.
As Bielagus put it, “I don’t know what part needs to happen first, but I know that we need help.”
For now, the lights are still on at The Ruby Fruit, and the fight to save LA’s beloved lesbian bar continues.
