Famed WeHo Gay Nightclub The Abbey Goes Up for Sale

First opened in 1991 by David Cooley, WeHo's The Abbey has grown to iconic status over the years. Now the famed night spot is going up for sale, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Listed as "A Generational Purchase Opportunity to Acquire One of the World's Most Iconic Nightclubs and Restaurants," the property comprises both the original The Abbey as well as The Chapel at The Abbey.

The Times noted that the Chapel at the Abbey "opened in 2016 as an expansion of the original business."

Cooley originally opened The Abbey "as a coffee shop in 1991," the Times recounted. "Over time, it grew and expanded into a restaurant and nightclub measuring nearly 10,000 square feet."

The Times, citing WeHo Times, recalled that Cooley "sold a majority stake in 2006 to SBE Group for $10 million but bought it back in 2015."

The sale this time around has no fixed price tag; the listing specifies a "Request for Offers." Calling The Abbey one of "LA's Most Prominent Entertainment Destinations," the listing declares the business "A Proven, World-Renowned Brand with Incredible Expansion Opportunity."

This is not the only property owned by Cooley that's on the market. The Times noted that Cooley "also listed his Hancock Park home for about $7.7 million" last March.

Former WeHo City Councilor John Duran spoke to the establishment's role in the local gay culture, saying Cooley's "vision was in complete alignment with the city to reinvigorate historic Boystown and create a world-renowned gay establishment."

In that, Cooley succeeded: As The Abbey's website says, the night spot was twice bestowed "the MTV Logo Best Gay Bar in the World Award."

"The Abbey is known as a world-renowned bar, restaurant, and event venue located in the heart of West Hollywood," WeHo Times noted, before quoting from the listing, which hailed The Abbey as "one of the most popular and iconic gay bars, both in the United States and globally, known for its diverse clientele, lively atmosphere, and regular events and theme nights."

"The Abbey has built a loyal customer base over the years and is a staple in the LGBTQ+ community," the listing adds.

Last year, Discover Los Angeles offered a précis of just how important The Abbey is to the fabric of gay life in Los Angeles. "The Abbey is more than a dance club or restaurant," the site declared. "It's a community center, albeit one with sexy, barely clad dancers and 10-ounce apple martinis."

Indeed, the profile noted, "Anytime there's a milestone event concerning L.A.'s gay community – Proposition 8, the Supreme Court affirming the right of same sex couples to marry – you can count on a crowd (along with news trucks and cameras) converging on" the establishment.

But times are changing. As the Times pointed out, "The Abbey sale is the latest development to rock the West Hollywood nightlife ecosystem. In May, reality star and restaurateur Lisa Vanderpump confirmed she would not renew the lease on her restaurant Pump, right around the corner from the Abbey."

The future is unwritten, but Duran offered a note of optimism, saying, "As one generation of LGBT passes into memory and new generations arrive, it will be fascinating to witness the changes that may lie ahead for the historic district."