Nearly five months after a disruptive and heavily scrutinized “compliance check” rattled the city’s LGBTQ+ community, P Town Bar has officially received its updated occupancy certificate, bringing closure to a saga that began with trauma and ended in collective triumph.
In a public statement shared this week, the Bloomfield-based bar, long considered a staple of Pittsburgh’s queer nightlife, thanked patrons, allies, and supporters for standing by them through what they described as an emotionally and financially exhausting period.
“As we return to normal operations, we welcome everyone back with the assurance that we will not face any more surprise visits over occupancy issues,” the statement read.
The updated Certificate of Occupancy, issued October 24 by the City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections, officially permits the use of P Town’s full first-floor space as a bar and restaurant. It marks the resolution of the regulatory concerns that sparked a massive enforcement response on May 2, a night many in the community described as traumatic and unnecessary.
The May 2 incident, which unfolded during a sold-out drag performance featuring Amanda Lepore, drew national attention and local outrage when approximately 20 officers from multiple agencies entered the venue mid-show, halted performances, and temporarily forced guests outside in the rain. Patrons, performers, and staff characterized the event as a “raid,” recalling painful parallels to historic police crackdowns on LGBTQ+ venues.
What followed was a wave of community organizing, political engagement, and public accountability. State Representative La’Tasha D. Mayes, in partnership with fellow lawmakers and city officials, hosted a town hall inside P Town on May 22 to confront what many saw as a disproportionate and poorly executed response.
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Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Lee Schmidt plainly admitted to community members, “We messed this up.”
Officials later confirmed that P Town was not classified as a “nuisance bar” and had no prior violations on record. The triggering complaint was reportedly an anonymous email about overcrowding, and the inspection revealed that the venue had exceeded an outdated occupancy limit, the result of post-pandemic renovations that had not yet been fully processed by the city.
The bar is still scheduled to appear in court this November regarding pending citations, but staff remain hopeful that the upcoming hearing will conclude the matter fully.
In the months following the inspection, P Town launched a GoFundMe campaign to help offset more than $60,000 in fines and an additional $20,000 in renovation costs. The outpouring of support was immediate, with hundreds of donations totaling over $12,000 from across the city and beyond.
City leaders have since pledged reforms to ensure better communication with small venues, more transparency around compliance checks, and safeguards to prevent over-policing of marginalized spaces.
P Town’s updated occupancy permit offers some closure for the community. “Thank you again,” their statement read, “and we hope to see you at the bar soon.” With its doors open and permits in place, P Town Bar remains a reminder that queer spaces are worth fighting for.
Updated Certificate of Occupancy per City of Pittsburgh Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections:
