CT gay bar ‘eagerly awaiting’ more business with easement of COVID-19 restrictions – Shelton Herald
NORWALK — After over a year of restrictions and, in some cases closures, there is a light at the end of the tunnel for nightlife and establishments that subsist mainly on drink sales with the governor’s latest easement of some COVID-19 restrictions beginning next month.
For gay bar and event-space-turned-record-shop Troupe429, the news is welcome, as it has been struggling to remain open and serving the LGBTQ community since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
The bar does not have a functional kitchen and operates mainly as a dance club and performance venue, so reopening in its original form was not an option. After remaining closed for four months at the start of the pandemic, the Troupe owners shifted gears and converted part of the bar’s space to selling vinyl records to remain open to the Norwalk community, according to the bar’s website.
“We fought for all C(onnecticut) businesses to legally have the ability to sell beer/wine/liquor last March 2020 using a Change.org with over 10,000 signatures,” Troupe429 co-owner Casey Fitzpatrick said. “The pandemic forced all small businesses to pivot, and we did by turning our dance floor into a record store with thousands of new and vintage vinyls.”
When indoor dining opened back up during the summer, Troupe once again adapted, bringing in pre-packaged snacks and easy-to-make dishes such as macaroni and cheese microwavable cups and peanut butter and sandwiches, items still listed on the bar’s menu.
The snacks range in price from $1 to $6 and have proved to be a hit, with Pop-Tarts, Uncrustables and fresh popcorn selling out at times, Fitzpatrick said.
“When we became eligible to reopen under restrictions, many of our local elected leaders acted in ways that reduced consumer confidence in dining indoors safely,” he said. “We are still open and have been since indoor dining resumed. However, we went from seven days a week, to five days a week, to now just Friday through Sunday.”
Beginning May 1, bars and restaurants known for their drink options can serve those looking to drink without purchasing food — but there’s a catch. Customers purchasing only beverages may only do so in outdoor seating areas, leaving bars without outdoor or patio seating still without business.
Fitzpatrick said he is looking forward to expanding the club’s reopening come May, as Troupe429 does have outdoor dining space on Wall Street.
Should the first round of restriction easements go to plan, Lamont said all restaurant and dining restrictions will be lifted on May 19.
“We are eagerly awaiting the day coming up when we can open our disco ball dance floor,” Fitzpatrick said. “Now at the end of May 2021, we look forward to our return as an epicenter of LGBTQ nightlife and avant-garde art programming in Fairfield County. We have been working every day to stay engaged with our followers, both online and at Troupe429 when we’re open.”
The bar is open Friday and Sunday from 4 to 11 p.m., and also hosts cabaret shows on Saturdays.
With the removal of some COVID restrictions and the start of Pride Month in June, Fitzpatrick said Troupe429 has exciting plans in the coming months.
abigail.brone@hearstmediact.com