‘Iconic’ LGBTQ+ bar in midtown Atlanta shuts down after fire

ATLANTA — A fire in Midtown has the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department working to put out flames on 10th Street.

The fire was at Blake’s on the Park, a popular LGBTQ+ nightclub in midtown Atlanta.

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Atlanta Fire Rescue Department Public Information Officer Anaré Holmes told Channel 2 Action News that the fire started in the club’s upper level, but the “iconic LGBTQ+ Atlanta club” did not suffer any serious structural damage.

Holmes said no one was inside or hurt during the fire and that damage was minor.

Drone video shared with Channel 2 Action News shows a fire coming from the roof and crews working to put it out.

Channel 2′s Christian Jennings was at the popular bar where a manager said this caps off a rough month for the staff.

“We had an employee that passed away, so we were all down about that and have to deal with this, so it is what it is,” manager Rod Llaneza said.

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Llaneza says Blake’s will be closed on Saturday and they will take things one day at a time as they continue their cleanup process, but it’s unclear when they will reopen.

Rob Hall lives next to the business and says he smelled the smoke when he woke up.

“Knowing how close the building is to a lot of residences, it could have been a lot worse,” Hall said. “It’s such a staple of the community and always a vibrant part of the neighborhood.”

Fire investigators are still working to determine how it started.

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