The Abbey and Chapel, longtime landmarks of West Hollywood's gay nightlife, have been sold to a new owner, the company announced Wednesday.
Patrons of the historic venues were assured that the current management team will remain in place and that the restaurant and nightclub will remain open, the company announced along with its new owner on Instagram.
“La Abadía is more than just a bar. “It has been a sanctuary for the LGBTQ+ community through both good and difficult times,” former owner David Cooley said in announcing the sale.
The restaurant and nightclub were purchased by Tristan Schukraft, a technology entrepreneur who has been a longtime customer, Cooley said.
“This is both an honor and an important responsibility,” Schukraft said. “I plan to respect and honor the Abbey's history while bringing new ideas that reflect our evolving LGBTQ+ community and my personal approach to hospitality.”
Schukraft said he has been going to the Abbey for years. It was the first gay bar he went to in Los Angeles.
The new owner lives in Puerto Rico, where he runs a hotel that caters to gay clients.
The sale comes just four months after the property was put up for sale, but Schukraft said he was speaking with Cooley before the business went up for sale.
Cooley opened Abbey as a coffee shop in 1991 (although he had never tried coffee). He moved in and grew the 1,100-square-foot venue into the massive 14,000-square-foot restaurant and nightclub it is today after the 2016 opening of the Chapel, an expansion of the hall next door.
The Abbey was founded on the concept of pride; In 2010, Cooley told The Times that when she was younger, patrons had to enter gay bars on Santa Monica Boulevard through the back door.
“When I opened The Abbey, I said, 'Open the doors and be proud of who you are,'” he said.
Schukraft hopes to preserve and continue the Abbey's legacy as a “cornerstone” of the gay community in West Hollywood, he said. Although he did not disclose the purchase price, Schukraft said it was not cheap.
“I can tell you that I am cutting back on desserts when I eat out,” she said.
