(Image: The Cuff Complex)

1993 was a damn sexy year on Capitol Hill. Earlier this week, we told you about the beginning of E Pike-born Babeland’s 2013 celebrations marking 20 years in business.

Saturday night, The Cuff will also be doing some business celebrating its 20 years of leather and love on 13th Ave.

You can find a brief history of the legendary leather bar and nightclub here:

The Cuff began as a dream of Mr. Tim F. and Mr. Scott R., to provide a positive social outlet for people who were into Leather, Levi’s and Uniforms. After an exhaustive search throughout the Capitol Hill area, the present bar location was selected based upon the criteria that Tim and Scott had developed as important requirements for a bars success

In December of 1992, Cuff, Ltd. was born. Construction began in early January 1993. Most people who viewed the space early on all walked away with the same basic statement that the space would never work. Where they ever wrong. More…

[mappress mapid=”8″]The club was purchased by Randy Fields in 2004 — the family continues to own the company operating the one-of-a-kind night spot.

UPDATE: We asked Jeff Hennes, the long-time head of security for The Cuff who is retiring along with the 20th anniversary to concentrate full-time on his E Pike Doghouse Leathers shop, for his take on the club’s long history:

 The concept for The Cuff came from Scott Rodriguez and Tim F. and The Cuff opened as a Men’s Leather/Uniform/Fetish Bar on March 23rd 1993.  That was Scott’s Birthday and he was determined to open that day.  It was a tavern only serving Beer & Wine (only lounges with restaurants served liquor back then).  On our 5th Anniversary, Scott announced plans to expand into the rest of the building with an restaurant, dance floor and patio.  After six months of construction it opened and the Cuff became the Cuff Complex.

Today, the Cuff Complex is the home bar for many of Seattle’s leather, bear, bike and fetish groups such as Seattle Men in Leather, Border Riders MC and Northwest Bears to name a few.  The Cuff has become the place to come hang out, dance, social and just chill out.  Today, The focus of the Cuff is to provide a safe space thatcaters to an masculine energy and serves as the community living room.  The Cuff continues to be known for it’s theme parties such as Halloween, Beach Party, Furnace and many more.  Then there is the Cuff’s Annual Pride Day Street Party for 7000 of your closest friends.  This year, our host will be Lady Bunny with Crystal Waters, Stacy Q and others performing on the Cuff Stage with DJ PornStar making you dance in the streets.

Ok, a few thoughts and tidbits

The big disco ball used to hang at the Boren Street Disco.  That became City Beat then the Timberline, nor part of Cornish.  So that disco ball has been hanging in a Seattle Gay bar since 1978.  Various pieces of art go back to several of the old bars from the 80s’ like the J&L Saloon’s 1st Anniversary Poster (1982).  That is now the Seattle Eagle.

The Cuff stays the same and yet manages to reinvent itself.  Many of our customers bring their families into the bar so that they can see “their living room”.  One customer was telling me the other night about losing his mom and dad for an hour in the bar.  His parents were is seperate sections of the bar and had a great time.

Folks are always amazed on how big the Cuff is.  With the Front Bar, the Dance Bar downstairs. the Patio and the Dogrun so it is easy to lose some one.  What is great, it that you can dance, cool off outside or just hang out and chat with friends and meet new friends.  There is a space for everyone.