THE GUARDIAN: SchwuZ, a 50-year-old dance hotspot, falls victim to inflation and rising rents threatening Berlin’s club scene
Germany’s “oldest and biggest” gay dance club has declared itself bankrupt after nearly half a century in business, falling victim to inflation and an evolving party culture threatening Berlin’s nightlife.
Management troubles and dating apps were among the factors putting SchwuZ on the ropes last year and in May the club shortened its opening hours, laid off staff and asked regulars for help to plug a growing shortfall, to little avail.
On Thursday, the management team posted on Instagram: “SchwuZ has filed for insolvency. But: we don’t want to give up!”
The post noted SchwuZ’s integral role in Berlin’s LGBTQ+ scene since it was founded in Kreuzberg in 1977, helping two years later to launch the Christopher Street Day parade and the queer magazine Siegessäule.
“For nearly 50 years, SchwuZ has been more than just a club. It’s a second living room. A place for queer art, community, family, resistance,” it said. “Many of us have found what we were looking for here: a home, our chosen family, and freedom.” » | Deborah Cole | Saturday, August 2, 2025
