$4.1 million deal gives huge LGBTQ+ Ohio venue a surprising new future
A former Ohio LGBTQ+ venue is getting a new life, with plans to combine nightlife and food with health, wellbeing and community services.
A major LGBTQ+ entertainment complex in Ohio is being given a new life, with ambitious plans to combine nightlife, food and community events with health and wellbeing services under the same roof.
Studio West 117, on the Cleveland and Lakewood border, closed in December 2025 after previously providing a large social and recreational space for the local LGBTQ+ community. Now the future of its Fieldhouse is becoming clearer after a team connected to LGBTQ+ healthcare organisation Central Outreach Wellness Center secured the property following a $4.1 million winning bid.
The auction took place on June 25, with the purchase officially closing on September 9. New details revealed on September 21 show that the team does not intend to simply turn the building into another healthcare facility. Instead, the vision is to preserve the entertainment, food and social side of the venue while introducing health, wellness and other support through community partners.
The Fieldhouse covers more than 25,000 square feet and already includes a full-size gymnasium, outdoor courtyard, rooftop bar and patio, restaurant and pizza kitchen. Those facilities could once again become places for LGBTQ+ people to eat, drink and enjoy events, while the health element would operate alongside them rather than replacing them.
Under the plans, someone attending a drag show or visiting for a meal could also have the opportunity to access an STI test, wellness screening or referral for mental health support. Central Outreach's approach is based around taking services into spaces where people already feel comfortable rather than expecting every interaction around health and wellbeing to begin inside a traditional clinic.
The community will also be asked what it wants from the revived venue before its programme is finalised, with organisers hoping to create an inclusive and affordable destination serving different parts of the LGBTQ+ community. A new name is planned for the Fieldhouse, although there is currently no confirmed reopening date.
For a venue that appeared to have reached the end of the road less than a year ago, the plans offer a much more positive next chapter, with entertainment, community and LGBTQ+ health all forming part of its future.
Sources: The Buckeye Flame, September 21, 2026; Colliers, June 25, 2026.
