Legendary New York Club Splash Closes Its Doors

July 23, 2013 ● by Dan Avery

Katy Perry making a surprise appearance at Splash 

After more than two decades, Splash—New York’s long-running and legendary gay dance club—is shutting its doors. On Facebook, owner Brian Landache posted a messagethanking patrons for the years they came and partied down.

Over the years, countless pop stars hit the 17th Street landmark to promote their new singles or projects—including Katy Perry, Queen Latifah and Kylie Minogue. And more Broadway stars than we can recount appeared on the stage for the club’s Musical Mondays night.

Once home to the city’s only go-go boy showers, Splash weathered draconian anti-nightlife laws that shuttered other mega clubs, but has suffered now that the gays use hookup apps to connect rather than eye-to-eye bar room contact.

The opening of XL in Hell’s Kitchen last year also drew away the twentysomething and tourist crowds essential to the club’s lifeblood.

Splash will officially close on August 10, so be sure to make your last pilgrimage before then.