Youngstown's Club Switch closes over lease agreement dispute

Hundreds of people are reacting to the sudden closure of Club Switch on Belmont Ave. The doors to the building are locked with everything inside.

Club Switch made Facebook post explaining why.

Due to unforeseen circumstances outside of our control, we will be closed for the foreseeable future due to a lease agreement dispute. We are actively looking at all options available, including, but not limited to, legal action. Our number one priority has and always will be our community. We will pursue the best option available to be able to continue providing a safe space for everyone who needs it. We want to sincerely thank everyone who has been a part of our journey thus far throughout the last 7 years. This is not the end of our story, just a mere pause. We look forward to serving you once more.

With all the love, sincerely, Club Switch Staff and MGMT.

That post received hundreds of reactions, and dozens of comments from members of the community.

Some people who are upset about the closure are describing the club as a safe space for LGBTQ+ members.

“When I heard that Club Switch was closing, it felt like a part of myself was being closed as well,” said Ahad Abdullah of Youngstown.

Charles Dunlap, the attorney for the landlord of the Club Switch building, said the landlord has been trying to contact the leaseholder over needed repairs to the property. The landlord is keeping the building locked until the matter is resolved.

The Rust Belt Theater Company used the space for their performances. When the doors locked, the company’s equipment was locked inside.

Robert Joki with the theater company made a post about the closure.

It is a sad day for the Rust Belt Theater Company.

"As most of our fans know, we have been performing our shows at Club Switch in Youngstown, OH for the last few years.   We moved our performances there after COVID shutdowns, and cost increases, made it impossible to produce shows at our old venue.

Sunday evening, we discovered that the locks to the building had been changed, without warning. This was not done by the proprietors or management of Club Switch, but by the landlord who owns the building, over a lease dispute.  All of our theater equipment, including tens of thousands of dollars worth of lighting and sound equipment, our tech computers, projectors, costumes, set pieces, and theater seating, are all currently locked in a space we no longer have access to. This was done without an eviction notice, and we are currently working with a lawyer in order to gain access to our property.  When we do, our plan is to put it into storage, and exist remotely, until a stable venue option becomes available…"

Joki goes on to say the closure was a huge setback, and the company has no choice but to operate without a physical home. 

The group uses the shows to raise money for nonprofits and LGBTQ+ events in the community. 

According to Dunlap, everything is still inside the building.

Club Switch management says they are pursuing the best option available to be able to continue providing a safe space.