One of world’s most iconic gay bars just got sold to HIV healthcare entrepreneur

West Hollywood’s iconic LGBTQ+ bar, The Abbey, is under new ownership.

Until now, The Abbey has been run by its founder, David Cooley, who opened it as a coffee shop 33 years ago. On Instagram yesterday, the venue announced that both The Abbey Food & Bar and The Chapel at the Abbey had been sold to Tristan Schukraft, founder and CEO of MISTER, the country’s largest provider of HIV care through telemedicine.

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In a statement, Cooley said Schukraft has long frequented the Abbey and “gets what The Abbey means to people.”

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“I trust him to look after our community, our guests, and our team,” Cooley added. “Plus, I’m sure he’s going to throw some great parties.”

The announcement also said that the venue’s management team would stay in place.

“The Abbey is more than just a bar,” Cooley said. “It’s been a sanctuary for the LGBTQ+ community through tough and good times alike, from the AIDS Crisis to the fight for Marriage Equality and Transgender Rights… I’ve spent half my life here, meeting incredible people and seeing how the Abbey has been a place of happiness and acceptance for so many. Now, it’s time for someone new to lead.”

Schukraft also published a statement expressing his excitement to build on Cooley’s legacy.

“David built a small coffee shop on an unknown side street, into one of the most famous gay bars in the country, if not the world,” he said. “This is both an honor and a significant responsibility. I plan to respect and honor the Abbey’s history while bringing new ideas that reflect our evolving LGBTQ+ community and my personal approach to hospitality.”

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This is not the first time Cooley has sold The Abbey. In 2006, he sold a majority stake in the hospitality and entertainment company SBE but continued to serve as president. In 2015, Cooley bought it back.

In a 2015 op-ed for Advocate, Cooley expounded on The Abbey’s significance.

“People like to ask me what the Abbey means to the community,” he wrote. “It means different things to different people. It is an establishment where you spend an afternoon with your friends, meet the love of your life, get over your ex, bring your parents, plot a political movement, meet your favorite celebrity, have a great cocktail, support a cause you believe in, dance the night away, go to your first gay bar, or do all of those things in one day.”

“To me, the Abbey is my home. It’s where I always want to be. If you want to find out what the Abbey means to you, I will be here, working to make sure you have a great time.”