First, Cuff Pride Fest (Image: The Cuff)

Scott Walent lived in San Francisco for 15 years where he worked to fill the city’s nights as a promoter and co-owned the music venue Rickshaw Stop. He gave it up to move to Seattle in 2018 to build his career.

Seven years and a lot of nights later, Walent is an owner again, the holder of the keys to The Cuff Complex, the Capitol Hill leather bar that has been a backbone of Seattle’s queer scene for more than 30 years.

“I’m really focused on providing a range of music types and party types. We’re really focusing on having the gambit as far as we have in the queer community,” Walent tells CHS.

CHS reported here on Walent’s spring acquisition of The Cuff as the Queer/Bar family of Capitol Hill businesses decided to spin off the 13th Ave leather hangout to an owner who could focus on the historic gay bar’s unique place in the city’s queer nightlife scene.

Queer/Bar nightlife veteran and co-founder Joey Burgess is still on hand to help guide The Cuff this Pride weekend through its major Cuff Pride Fest street party but, after that, Walent is ready to move forward in reshaping The Cuff on his own.

There will be changes. And expansions. Walent said he’s working to produce a Girl’s Night Out event so lesbians, queers and allies can also feel welcome at The Cuff, adding how he’s “making sure that it’s not just the typical gay bar.” Based on the mix of people he’s seen at The Cuff, Walent is excited to give this new effort a try.

Good times at “the iconic” Cuff Pride Fest on 13th Ave last year (Image: The Cuff)

The Cuff Complex space has ebbed and flowed over the years and has also served as a kind of clubhouse for groups like Northwest Bears, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Seattle Men in Leather, and more. Its latest incarnation has been more leather nightclub than hangout.

There are many reasons to own a popular leather bar on Capitol Hill. Visions of summer were probably at the front of his mind when he made the decision to buy The Cuff after being part of the good times there over the years, Walent said.

“It was fast mostly because I wanted the opportunity to be a part of it during Pride and for the summer—obviously that’s a big moment for the club every year, and for the longevity and safety through the winter when it’s a little slower I wanted to make sure I could capitalize on Pride and my mark on Pride a little bit,” Walent said.

But there are longer term opportunities — and responsibilities —  beyond Pride.

Walent says he sees opportunities to “really make that space shine” and hopes to bring in talent from across the country and globe, and partner with promoter and party groups both inside and outside of Seattle to fill The Cuff.

He has also returned to his roots as a promoter with increased efforts around marketing so people know what’s taking place when, including posting good old fashioned flyers and promotions around events. Walent said he believes attendance has increased since the marketing push.

First, there is Pride. While Walent wants to get to work reinvigorating The Cuff, he is preparing to make it through the weekend with Burgess by his side — and keeping some surprises hidden.

So far, the work has been satisfying.

“It’s knowing that I’m giving a space to people to come and feel safe, be silly, be messy, make friends, lose friends,” Walent said. “In my twenties, in San Francisco, nightlife was where I learned how to become myself…a lot of that is how I see The Cuff. It’s going to make those memories for a lot of people hopefully, and I think that’s probably my most favorite thing—I get to be a part of it and see some of it go down.”

The Cuff is located at 1533 13th Ave. Learn more at at cuffcomplex.com.

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