Last Ditch Bar Faces Customer Backlash Over Mask Policy Change
Greenfield's lesbian bar, Last Ditch, altered its strict mask policy, sparking significant customer backlash and online debate.
Last Ditch, a lesbian bar in Greenfield, Massachusetts, is facing strong customer backlash following a change to its mask policy. At the end of August, the bar announced on Instagram that Saturday nights would become mask-optional to test "typical club nights with themes/hosts/DJs/full capacity."
The decision quickly drew negative reactions on social media, with some patrons accusing the bar of "killing disabled people in the name of your own leisure and convenience." Last Ditch opened last year aiming to provide a safe space, particularly for disabled and immunocompromised individuals, with an initial policy requiring high-quality masks.
The bar's original strict policy was intended to ensure a safe environment for everyone, and it has also supported financially struggling patrons by allowing entry without a cover charge when necessary. As financial difficulties mounted and bills accumulated, the bar's founders had to consider operational changes.
With two of the original founders having stepped away months prior, the remaining founder, Jackie Matellian, participated in a community meeting in September to address the situation. The meeting, involving volunteers and mediators, aimed to find a resolution to patrons' concerns and the bar's financial challenges.