Double Header

The Double Header was a gay bar located at 407 2nd Avenue S in Seattle's Pioneer Square neighborhood, in the U.S. state of Washington. The establishment opened in 1934 and closed in December 2015. It was thought to be the oldest operating gay bar in the United States. The bar was frequented by both gay men and lesbians, which was unusual for the time. In the basement of the building, a gay dance club called The Casino operated from the 1930s to the 1950s. The Casino was popular with drag queens. Eventually the LGBT-friendly atmosphere of The Casino spread to The Double Header, turning it gradually into a gay bar. In the 1950s The Casino was converted into a diner. The Double Header was established by Joseph Bellotti Senior, replacing a merchant marine bar which previously occupied the space. His son Joseph Bellotti Junior took ownership of the bar some time in the 1960s. Belloti Jr. retired, closing the bar in December 2015 and selling the building in March 2016 for US$4.2 million (2016) (equivalent to US$5.63 million in 2025), with the Ewing & Clark real estate group handling the sale. In 2016 Ewing & Clark president Tom Graff said that a letter of intent to purchase the building was signed by an unnamed potential buyer, and that the buyer intended to convert the building into a live music venue while retaining "the Double Header name and regalia."