AsiaSF, San Francisco's beloved trans cabaret, is getting a swan song after an outcry from fans led to a one-month extension of its life. Rather than closing on March 31, the venue will now sashay away on April 28, according to KRON4. The establishment, known for its Vegas-style trans cabaret shows and award-winning Asian cuisine, is a fixture of the city’s nightlife, having welcomed over a million visitors since its opening in 1998.
The extension aligns with the venue's 26th anniversary falling on April 17, offering a silver lining and one last hurrah for its clientele. "It feels amazing to have so many people come out and support us for all these years," AsiaSF founder and CEO Larry Hashbarger said in a statement obtained by KRON4. The establishment has hosted international tourists and locals alike, but the decision to finally close down the brick-and-mortar location was attributed to a shift in nightlife patterns since the COVID-19 pandemic yet the spirit of AsiaSF will live on as it plans to host pop-up performances and private events around the Bay Area.
Reservations are swiftly being booked as patrons rush to experience the glam and glitz one last time, with the AsiaSF Facebook page urging prospective visitors to reserve their spot for the final month of operations. The announcement on social media, fittingly shared on the International Transgender Day of Visibility, underscored the value of community support in keeping the club's spirit alive.
Notably, "Trina," a staple performer who has been with AsiaSF since its inception in 1998, will be part of the final curtain call, Hashbarger described her as “fine wine,” signaling her as an enduring symbol of the venue's vibrant history, entertainment is not merely about sparkle but about the people who make AsiaSF a home for diversity and self-expression, patrons have only a baker's dozen of days left to bid farewell to this iconic establishment as noted by the bar's Facebook page, adding a note of urgency to the fans and friends who've been touched by its presence.
