Club Q plans to reopen after tragedy
Nov 18, 2024
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The owner of Club Q tells FOX21 News the club will reopen at its original location sometime soon, and some community members and victims are not happy about it.
FOX21 News spoke with Club Q's owner, Matthew Haynes, to learn his plans to reopen and hear from others who are unsure how they feel about the reopening. Jeff Hendricks is an employee at Gold Mine Mini Golf, which is directly across the street from Club Q.
"I mean anything that happens is going to anger... it's going to anger some people and not others," said Hendricks.
Haynes said the club will reopen at its original location sometime in the near future: "We're slowly going in and revamping and remodeling the interior of Club Q, and working towards getting the club to open again in this location, those are all part of the steps of healing."
Hendricks said he's been getting feedback from the community on their opinions, but said some people are not on board.
"They've told me that if they want to reopen the club, they said that's fine, but they don't plan on attending again because they didn't want to come back in and party and have fun where their friends were killed," said Hendricks.
Back in March survivors of the shooting opened "The Q," a lounge inside the Satellite Hotel--a space aimed at continuing Club Q's mission as a safe and affirming place for all.
"There are certainly people that... were involved in the shooting that cannot step foot in here again, but then there are so many that keep telling us to reopen," added Haynes.
Haynes said finding a balance between honoring victims and providing a place for the LGBTQ+ community has been a difficult process.
"We've been focusing very much on the interior that it's going to be, you know, fresh and new. But it's a balance because we also wanted it to be recognizable and familiar, and so that has been our goal, we're not rushing through this, but certainly, this space will again be what it's been for the last 22 years," he told FOX21 News.
Hendricks said he is on the fence about his feelings on the reopening, but said despite what happens, he is hoping for peace and understanding in the community.
"You can only hope that the people that are of the percentage that are angered by it, that they don't do anything stupid or violent, again. Let them be angry about it, that's their right as a person, and as a human being, it's their right to be angry about something or happy about something," he added.
It is not yet clear when Club Q will reopen, but at Sunday's candlelight vigil, when some people heard about the possibility of a reopening, they were not happy about it.