“The 5 was definitely the best place in Redding to dance, hang out, etc., without judgement, and I’m so sad it’s gone.”.I hope they can bring it back to what it was.” “The 5 was the first bar I ever felt comfortable in.No other bar in Redding feels as comfortable and laid back.” Initially, the social media posts were mostly sad and nostalgic. Messages piled up quickly on Facebook, especially on the the Club 501 page. The news traveled quickly on social media about the demise of Redding’s only gar bar. The message was sudden, unexpected and offered no explanation. By any name, on June 2, an administrator of the Club 501 Facebook page announced the bar’s closure. That 501 Club in that location will be forever referred to in the past tense, by many names: Club 501, the 501 Club, The 5, and the 501. It offered music and a small dance floor.
The tiny bar sold famously strong drinks. It was a safe haven for LGBTQ people of all ages, but it was also an accepting, non-judgmental place for straight people, too. The 501 Club was located on the corner of Division and Center streets in Redding, a place so small that it was easy to miss unless you knew what to look for.
