Last call is coming early at Leon's Backroom, the long-running gay bar in Mount Vernon, as staff and regulars take time to grieve owner Ron Singer and sort out the future of the place he ran for decades.
The bar announced it will temporarily close after service on Wednesday, with doors shutting early at 9 p.m. so employees can manage a business transition following Singer's death. Staff said they are working to reopen as quickly as possible.
According to The Baltimore Banner, the notice ran on the bar's Instagram page and included the line, “As many of you know, losing Ron has been a profound loss for this amazing community.” The outlet reported that the shortened hours apply only to Wednesday and that the post asked patrons to bear with staff as they navigate the transition.
Long-running Mount Vernon fixture
Per Leon's website, the Backroom is located at 227 W. Chase St. and typically keeps late hours, a schedule that helped turn it into a nightly anchor of Mount Vernon nightlife. Open for decades, the venue regularly hosts karaoke nights, drag shows and other community events that keep neighborhood regulars coming back.
Singer's role in the neighborhood
Local coverage reported that Singer was 66 when he died earlier this month and that his funeral took place at Sol Levinson's Chapel. WBAL noted Singer's long tradition of serving a free Thanksgiving dinner at Leon's and described the bar as a gathering place for patrons who often lacked other supports.
Cash-only shift and what comes next
Earlier this week, Leon's shifted to cash-only service and asked patrons for patience while staff adjusted, The Baltimore Banner reported. The Instagram post did not give a firm reopening date, and staff did not immediately respond to requests for comment, leaving the bar's long-term ownership and operational plans unclear.
For now, Mount Vernon's queer community is left to mourn a proprietor many saw as a steady presence behind the bar and a quiet safety net for people who needed one. We will update this story if Leon's posts a reopening plan or additional details about next steps.
