Ownership of West Hollywood’s The Abbey will be transferred to hotel and nightlife expert Tristan Schukraft in the coming months, awaiting the transfer of the venue’s Alcoholic Beverage Control licenses, according to Eater. The swap comes on the heels of the 33-year-old WeHo staple being listed for sale in June.
Schukraft, who got his start in tech, is the founder of Tryst Beachfront Hotel and MISTR — “a telemedicine provider for HIV-related healthcare needs.”
He says, “I plan to respect and honor the Abbey’s history while bringing new ideas that reflect our evolving LGBTQ+ community and my personal approach to hospitality…We’re not just maintaining a legacy business and an international landmark, we’re adding to the future of LGBTQ+ nightlife.”
“The Abbey’s existing management team will remain intact when Schukraft takes over, including longtime general manager Todd Barnes and assistant general manager Kiki Farahat,” explains Eater.
The iconic LGBTQ+ venue’s storied upbringing starts in 1991 when David Cooley opened the space as a queer-positive bakery before transferring over to “a former pottery shop [across the street], [acquiring] the adjacent Here Lounge, and [converting] the massive 9,540-square-foot space into the Abbey as it is known today.”
