Salt Lake City’s LGBTQ+ bar, The Suntrapp, closes amid unionization push

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The Suntrapp, a popular bar for the LGBTQ+ community in Salt Lake City, has closed after a push for unionization amid a government shutdown.

“During the government shutdown, we’ve tried to engage in good faith: to keep our doors open for our staff who depend on their jobs, and for our patrons who rely on the Suntrapp as a critical safe space for the LGBTQ+ community,” Suntrapp management said in a statement released Friday night. “Sadly, the financial impact of consistent protests has made it impossible for us to remain open. As such, we will be closing the Suntrapp on October 31st 2025.”

The shutdown is being felt nationwide, with uncertainty over federal food aid and the threat of delayed home heating aid for millions of low-income families, among other effects.

Several weeks ago, a number of Suntrapp employees filed paperwork seeking union representation. Management said they supported the rights of their employees to do so, and were ready for the next step of a formal vote among staff.

“We were committed to engaging in that process and supported the rights of eligible employees to participate in a secret ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board,” the statement reads. “Unfortunately, because of the government shutdown, the National Labor Relations Board was closed and the election process was stopped.”

At this point, Suntrapp’s doors remained closed, creating a financial strain on the popular Salt Lake City bar. Management said that while they remain hopeful about finding a path forward, they are not certain what that path looks like.

“We will do our best to provide an update on the future of the Suntrapp as soon as we have more information,” the statement reads. “Many thanks to our dedicated employees and generous patrons.”