We got this email from a reader a few days ago: “Rumor has it Catty Shack was closed down on New Years, and may remain closed.” Now, there’s an interesting discussion on Brooklynian about whether Park Slope’s fave lebsbian bar is doneski. One poster yesterday afternoon writes: ” I hear they got shut down for no good reason. I also hear there is a silent partner trying to sell out the space or something like that, but details are not immediately available to me. Anyone have info, beyond the usual boy-type complaints re: butch ladies?”
Here’s another post:
good group of ladies, the ones I know, but my understanding currently, based on this email (follows) is that something went terribly wrong with another partner. WRT to what I am quoting below — I do NOT believe that Brooke has a problem with straight men. if she did, she would not have had weekly poker nights that welcomed gay and straight men and women to play. so, sexuality is not the issue per se. however. I do not know the intimate details of the issues within the business and the sexual politics involved. there may be an issue of “hetero knows better than gay” involved or something else. I have zero clue. when I get back to the flat in quito where I am crashing I will give Brooke a call and primarily offer friendly support, but also see what I can figure out. if I learn something non-confidential that she is okay with me sharing, I will. email:
> UNFORTUNATELY CATTYSHACK SPACE TRYING
> TO BE STOLEN FROM OWNER/FOUNDER BROOKE
> WEBSTER AND COMMUNITY, DONT BE FOOLED!
> WE WILL BE AT OTHER SPACES FRIDAY AND
> SATURDAY NITE! BROOKE’S SILENT BIZ
> PARTNER WHO IS A HETEROSEXUAL MAN IN IS
> TRYING TO TAKE CATTYSHACK FOR HIMSELF
Drama at our fave corner in Brooklyn that doesn’t involve Robert Scarano or others–Fourth & Carroll!
8 responses so far ↓
1 solidago // Jan 8, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Eh, it was bound to happen. That place had a reputation of being as about as welcoming to outsiders as the Glory Social Club one block over. Perhaps that schtick would have been successful over in Manhattan, but in Brooklyn it just seems tacky and obnoxious, and alienates an overwhelming majority of potential customers. It all boils down to a lousy business strategy – I’d be mighty ticked if I were the silent partner looking to recover my investment.
2 Jack // Jan 8, 2009 at 1:00 pm
I really love Brooklynian threads! The earnestness of statements like these being made are the purest form of comedy:
“There needs to be women-only spaces in our society, and lesbians were here in park slope first dammit!”
No disrespect to anyone, but yes, exactly. That’s it! Every brownstone on every street in Park Slope was built by hand by exiled lesbians who came here decades ago. I’ve seen the sepia toned photos. I know the truth!
Good lord, the idea that there’s a debate ANYWHERE about men being allowed into a lesbian bar is 100% Brooklynian comedy.
Next thing you know there will be an expose on why Chinese people get one menu in Chinatown restaurants and the non-Chinese get the regular menu.
3 anon // Jan 8, 2009 at 1:51 pm
I’m a straight women who went there on many occasions with my boyfriend, his straight male friends and a male gay friend. Never had any problems at all.
4 heterosexual // Jan 9, 2009 at 7:22 pm
OMFG, heterosexual man wher are they, btw not a big lost
5 HopeOthersDontLoseToo // Jan 27, 2009 at 1:28 pm
This has nothing to do with sexuality. It has to do with bad business practices of the “proprietor.”
The true owner of CattyShack from a financial perspective (not Brooke Webster) was forced to close the venue after it was losing money for some time. At various points over the last year, Brooke Webster tried to keep the venue open by using money given to her by trusted friends as an investment in a separate business venture. That venture (CoffeeShack – which could have been another great 4th Ave establishment) failed after the landlords evicted her and she failed to ever notify her investors of the outcome, and even ignored summons to defend herself. Brooke had opportunities to secure additional investments to open the space and provide a return to the investors, but turned them away after they requested “too much documentation” (e.g., simple tax records, filings, etc).
While I do agree that CattyShack will be missed, I would strongly advise against supporting Brooke’s newest attempts to take any more money from the Community she claims to support.
6 anita // Mar 16, 2009 at 1:43 am
I agree with the previous post. It was a very poorly run place. Brooke was always talking about her other business ventures and not paying attention the one at hand. She would be holding court upstairs. Many friends had awful experiences at door with the rude staff. Its a shame because space like this are important but its not a good sign when the bar isnt busy and you still have to wait to get a drink. I also no several friends who did events there and or djed there and had similar experiences. as for blamed the straight partner- that is just a cop out.
7 DC // May 4, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Does anyone know what the Glory Social Club is exactly? Just a regular bar or some type of underground scene like a poker club?
8 screwed // Oct 16, 2009 at 11:04 am
I was one of the friends who got screwed by BK. I lent her money (stupidly) which she never returned. It was in the thousands. The she lost the bar that she claimed that she owned (lies) and avoided me with lies for over a year. Small claims court does nothing with this type of situation where you have a professional manipulator on your hands. Ug. Anyone else have this experience?