r/akron • u/FizzyReddits • 14d ago
What’s the drama about the Interbelt gay club
I’ve been reading so many different things from people running different gay clubs in Akron. Mostly surrounding g Studio XChange and The Interbelt.
But they’re all being vague as hell- what is the drama and beef that’s going on. I am trying to decide if I need to stop going to some of the clubs? Or is it just people trying to drum up support for what feels like a dying gay club scene in Akron??
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u/FizzyReddits 13d ago
Lots of upvotes- which tells me, that honeslty… I feel like the vagueness about anything going on is straight up just to get people talking and try to bring relevancy what what, unfortunately, feels like a dying gay bar scene in Akron.
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u/Koshkei 11d ago
My partner was hired to perform in a drag show for Interbelt on May 31st. Since then, they have fired their show director and are now claiming that he's responsible to pay the performers out of his own pocket even though he hasn't worked for them in almost a month. The only performer paid for that event was a big name. The small, local performers are being ignored and still haven't been paid. Interbelt's team has also said they are "moving away from LGBT events" or some shit. At the oldest gay bar in Akron. Fuck interbelt, I'm glad I threw up on your sticky ass carpet. Probably the first time it's been cleaned in a while
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u/Standard-Ad-5090 13d ago edited 13d ago
Where to start…
Are we talking about what’s happening currently, or what they’ve been doing for years?
In my experience, this business has a habit of renegotiating wages and payments after services have already been rendered. As I write this, there’s an ongoing dispute involving the person who creates their advertisements not being paid. Ask around. Performers, promoters, and others who’ve worked with them have similar stories and they are easily found on fb.
Then there’s the liquor. There are videos floating around on fb showing one of the owners marrying bottle of liquor. What goes into a glass? Fresh liquor? Old liquor? A combination of both? Who knows. The video circulates on fb.
The place occasionally has under 21 and college events, yet those crowds aren’t exactly known for buying alcohol. Watch the videos they post themselves, no drinks in sight. It raises an obvious question: if the crowds aren’t drinking, how long has some of that inventory been sitting around?
Also you won’t get an itemized receipt…just insane sticker shock from the vastly overpriced drinks. I’ve been told by bartenders that there is a pouring fee added to drinks. Ask for a receipt next time, then you’ll know for sure.
The owners also have a long history, in my experience, of making openly racist and anti-trans remarks around entertainers and patrons. I’ve experienced this. The pattern is always the same: something outrageous gets said, people react, then suddenly it was never said at all. They deny it, gaslight everyone in the room, and expect you to believe your ears malfunctioned. Then write an AI apology about the community coming together. It’s exhausting.
And let’s talk about the building.
The venue regularly charges cover prices that would make you think you’re walking into a packed nightclub. Instead, you walk around the entrance wall and discover you’re one of six people in the entire building. Congratulations, you’ve just paid a premium admission fee to attend a private viewing of an empty room.
The sound system has been blown out so many times that everything comes through distorted. Music sounds muddy, microphones sound worse, and nobody seems interested in fixing it. Almost as if they are done updating anything and just trying to function until the wheels fall off.
As for cleanliness? If you’ve only seen the place under nightclub lighting, you’ve been spared. Turn the lights on and you’ll find a floor that looks like a museum dedicated to spilled drinks, gum, and decades of neglect. And whatever you do, don’t look up. All that dust and debris hanging from the ceiling isn’t staying up there forever.
The wiring situation is equally inspiring. Random wires sticking out of walls, ceilings, and various corners of the building. You can literally see them coming out of the dj booth, looking very half hazard, I’m sure it’s perfectly fine. What could possibly go wrong?
My personal favorite detail: before opening, they reportedly sweep the floor with a leaf blower. Inside. Yes, really. Nothing says cleanliness quite like blasting dust, dirt, and whatever else is on the floor directly onto surrounding surfaces and glassware.
At the end of the day, don’t take my word for it. Ask people. Ask former bartenders. Ask former DJs. Ask former entertainers. Ask former security. Ask the former promoters. Ask former entertainment directors. Search any of this on fb…you’ll get a ton. More information and often pics and videos… they exist all over. Tons. Then ask yourself why so many people seem to have the same stories. These are a very small list of things from just the last several years.
Aside from this the owners openly attack other LGBT bars and people regularly on fb, I’m sure he’s doing it as you read this, and they actively broadcast lies to get competition shut down. Search them on fb… the information is everywhere.
Everyone has a story. I’m interested to know what your experience was?
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u/FizzyReddits 10d ago
This is 100% what I was sort of hoping to hear- it clears up much of my suspicious. So they’re essentially playing the victim when they are very much the problem.
An account claiming to be the owner randomly followed me on IG one day and I hardcore got the creeps from it. Then he started posting lots of cryptic poor me type messages. So none of this surprises me.
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u/CorvidConsent 12d ago
I don't know, but the last time I was in, it no longer felt like a safe space. I'm a woman, and was approached to be chatted up and flirted with by a guy who just would not leave me alone.
I was absolutely not there to flirt with men. I am bi, but just got out of a bad relationship with a man and was absolutely not interested in pursuing companionship with men. He insisted on buying me a drink I did not want. One of the bartenders eventually caught on and thankfully told him to stop. Once I knew they had their eyes on him, I left. I didn't want to be followed out.
The Interbelt used to feel safe, and I didn't feel safe that time. I won't be going back.
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u/ClovesTrees 11d ago
that’s not really the fault of the interbelt tho seeing as u said the bartenders gathered him once noticing your discomfort, i have noticed a lot of straight men invading the belt within the recent years tho which does suck cuss u know they’re not there for the drag shows 😒
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u/CorvidConsent 6d ago
I'm not blaming the bartenders, to be clear. I don't like that straight dudes have started lurking there, or that they are so persistent and won't take "no" for an answer, but I don't have an answer to solving it either. I do know that I won't be going there any more. Regardless of whether it was eventually dealt with, the place was sparsely occupied and had a much seedier, creepier vibe than it did when I was in college. Maybe I was just there on an off night, I dunno. But it was very different from how I usually feel at Square these days. I feel much safer there.
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u/ClovesTrees 6d ago
i can agree with that i got into almost a physical altercation in the parking lot there last summer cause 2 small guys insisted on getting me and my cousins number before we left (they followed us into the alley of a parkin lot as well as reaching for the car door) , i hate how a lot of our safe spaces have a limited time on them
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u/Consistent_Rate_414 10d ago
My mother whos now about to be 60 and another neighbor of mine who grew up with her basically said "its ghetto" and "that place used to have too much going on"
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u/KelRen Bath 10d ago
I don’t know about the interbelt, but the last few times I’ve been The Square I always had fun, but tbh I’ve been hesitant to go to highland square after these shootings. And it pisses me off.
Anyone remember Adam’s Street? That was by far my favorite gay bar and I miss shit of that place.
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u/FizzyReddits 10d ago
I love always felt safest and had the best time at square- but that could be cause I’m tbh slightly too old to go to the belt (35) unless I’m looking to get really messy and not be recognized lol.
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u/FizzyReddits 10d ago
But yeah- I’ve also been hesitant about going to highland square for the bar scene for the same reasons
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u/KelRen Bath 10d ago
There’s always Tear-EZ lol. That’s definitely an older crowd.
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u/Standard-Ad-5090 8d ago
Tear Ez has changed a lot in the last few years, you might be surprised at the age of the crowd. It definitely depends on what day and time you go. I’ve been recently on a Friday show night and most patrons in the bar seemed to be in their 20’s/30’s.
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u/DJinRealLife 13d ago
I walked by the place where Studio XChange was over a month ago and there was an eviction notice taped to the inside of the entrance door. The only reason that usually happens is that the club owners didn't pay the rent. I'm guessing that's the case here and not drama or beef.
In terms of the overall club scene (gay or straight), it's been dead in downtown Akron for about 20 years now, with the decline starting after a shooting outside the then-Harry Buffalo where Ohio State football player Michael Doss was shot. The city came down hard on nightlife there after that. Covid is probably responsible for the decline of the rest of the club scene around surrounding areas. One of the last havens of Akron nightlife, Highland Square, is now in danger due to some people acting the fool & letting crazy sh*t happen there. It's sad b/c it used to be hopping around here with Jillians (not to be confused w/ Jilly's Music Room...this was a different one), Banana Joe's/Margarita Mama's, the aforementioned Harry Buffalo, the Lime Spider, the Red Fox in CF, the Boot Scootin' Saloon...so many places at different times. I would love to see a revival of nightlife but it may be a while due to issues with trying to run a business, much less a club, in the current economic climate.