Structural Damage Shuts Down Cass Corridor’s Beloved Temple Bar Indefinitely

Temple Bar, a beloved LGBTQ nightlife venue in Detroit’s Cass Corridor neighborhood is closed until further notice due to structural damage to the bar’s building facade.

Reached by Eater on Friday afternoon, owner George Boukas says he received a call around 10 a.m. from an individual telling him “that the roof of the bar caved in.” Initially Boukas says he thought the call was “a prank.” Then, he received a call from the Detroit Police Department asking if he was the owner of Temple Bar.

“Somehow the limestone on the top of the building just caved in,” Boukas says of the damage, noting that the interior was unscathed. “We’re waiting for the engineering supervisor to come out” from the city and assess the damage, and adds that Temple Bar is working with DPD to clear and “secure the sidewalk for everyone’s safety.” He says the bar is closed indefinitely but plans to post updates to Temple’s social accounts on Instagram and Facebook.

The damage was first reported by Metro Times, which provided video of the scene showing a pile of rubble from just above the bar’s sign lying on the sidewalk. The area is cordoned off by caution tape and traffic cones.

The bar was gearing up for Movement Weekend, a major annual music event hosted annually at bars and venues across the city. For his part, Boukas says, “The safety of our guests and staff are my priority.”