The new space also features an assortment of equally impressive private areas that include a large prep kitchen with a new walk-in fridge and an office overlooking everything.
A large open space featuring an impressive stage and long bar is among the most obvious amenities. The space is ADA-accessible, with all the public areas on the same floor. Being able to find a space that is versatile enough for many different kinds of events was key, and in a location that has plenty of parking as long as it's not during game days, which usually end well before 10 p.m." "We felt strongly that SoDo was a great nightlife spot for Seattle. I used to have to go outside with a decibel reader to monitor our sound level. "Plus, being in the industrial district next to warehouses and shipping containers would allow us to be as loud as we wanted, which became an issue at R Place with all the new apartment buildings going up. You can get there by the light rail, from the tunnel, by water taxi or ferry. It's the hub of Seattle, made to have easy access to hold large events. "After searching all over this city, we just felt SoDo would be the best fit. "SoDo not only welcomed us, the SoDo Business Improvement Association reached out to us and invited us to come check out this location," Lovelady said. Seattle noise ordinances and new apartment buildings going up all over the Hill were also considerations. Lovelady added that as much as he wishes R Place could stay on Capitol Hill, a variety of factors led him to look elsewhere finding a suitable space at a reasonable cost was the biggest one. The community needs as many safe spaces and places to be yourself as we can get, and we only succeed when we are working to help everyone succeed." "This is going to be from providing good wages to our staff, doing volunteer work, and making charitable donations, et cetera. It was one of my first conversations with John to make sure we were aligned and that we are going to give back to the community in as many ways as we can," said Lovelady. This really has been at the core of what we want to do from the beginning. "I cannot wait to tell the community all the things we have in store for them. to be able to help bring back a space and community that we all love." He has a background in business management and operations and will be doing most of the behind the scenes work. Fish told the SGN that he "grew up" at R Place in his 20s and "was excited. Lovelady managed R Place for 20 years and previously worked at the Revolver in West Hollywood for three years before coming to Seattle. They formed The Comeback Seattle LLC and took over R Place's social media accounts. In the end, Timmons and Elander decided to move on and hand over the legacy to Lovelady and former R Place patron John Fish, who are now co-managing partners on the project. However, plans changed after the owner of the building passed away and his estate declined to renew the bar's lease. Jay Inslee lifted his stay-at-home order early in the pandemic. A statement on the bar's Facebook page noted that "R Place has been a staple in the Gay community for over 35 years" and that it was their "intention to reopen" once Gov. R Place owners Steve Timmons and Richard Elander announced last February that the popular Capitol Hill bar had lost its lease and that they were seeking to reopen at a new location. "We bought everything from inside R Place to give people that familiarity, and of course we're bringing back the shows and the music and the dynamic performers that put R Place and Seattle on the map, as far as a destination LGBTQIA establishment." We took the soul of R Place and are plugging it into this new space," Lovelady told the SGN this week during a tour of the space.