SF drag nightclub Oasis closing January 1

Oasis, a San Francisco nightclub known for its bawdy drag shows, announced July 21 that it’s closing its doors January 1. The news was surprising, as it had been viewed as part of the revitalization of the city’s South of Market neighborhood.

“Life is about transformation,” D’Arcy Drollinger, the owner and artistic director of Oasis, stated in a news release. “We transformed a historic building into a safe, joyful, and groundbreaking space for queer art and nightlife. Now, it’s time to transform again. This has been the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make, but also one filled with hope for what comes next.” 

Oasis was opened by Drollinger, the late drag performer Heklina, and others in 2014. Heklina had been a part-owner till 2019. It was home to a number of well-attended and iconic continuing San Francisco drag shows, such as “Shit and Champagne,” “Princess,” “Sex and the City Live,” “Reparations,” “Star Trek Live,” and “Baloney.”

Drollinger didn’t return a request for comment July 21 asking for more specific information as to what precipitated the closure. Drollinger was San Francisco’s first official drag laureate, and though her term has ended, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has yet to announce a new one. 

Gay Supervisor Matt Dorsey, whose District 6 includes Oasis, called the closure a “heartbreaking loss” in a statement to the B.A.R. July 21.

“I know D’Arcy and the entire team at Oasis worked so hard to hang on through the pandemic,” Dorsey continued. “Their ‘Meals on Heels’ dinner and drag delivery service during the COVID lockdown even earned national attention in the New York Times. I obviously root for the success of all our LGBTQ+ community institutions, but we were especially rooting for Oasis in the District 6 office.”

Dorsey stated he contacted the city’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development and let Drollinger know that, “we’ll convene a meeting with them and all of Oasis’ employees to make sure they’re plugged into job placement and workforce services.”

“My whole office is committed to helping them however we can. I know I’ll personally miss their ‘Drunk Drag Red Carpet and Oscar Party,’ and will need to find a new Academy Awards tradition next year,” Dorsey concluded. “But we’re just all saddened by the closure.”

A spokesperson for the Office of Economic and Workforce Development stated to the B.A.R. July 22 that it "has been engaging with Oasis to ensure that they are connected with resources and programs to support them and their staff in the weeks and months to come.”

“We will also continue to advance policies and programs to support nightlife and entertainment businesses as they help drive San Francisco’s comeback,” the spokesperson added. “Our nightlife industry is vital, not only to San Francisco’s economy, but to its heart and soul."

Honey Mahogany, a Black queer trans person who is a drag performer in addition to being executive director of the city’s Office of Transgender Initiatives, stated that Drollinger is “a hero” who “dreamed big and worked hard and made [Oasis] one of the most renowned drag venues in the country and a star of the San Francisco nightlife, theater, and drag scene.

“Thank you to D’Arcy for giving so many queens, kings, and creatures a home, a stage, and a chance to live their wildest, most epic dreams,” Mahogany continued. “We know there are many more chapters to come for you, and we’re so excited to get behind your next big adventure. To all of the many talented, dedicated, and wonderful OASIS staff – THANK YOU! You all are part of the magic that makes SF so special. Oasis isn’t closed yet though! I hope to see many of you there over the next few months.”

Drollinger stated that Oasis is “more than a nightclub – it’s a movement. And movements don’t need four walls to keep going. Oasis Arts, our nonprofit, is where the heart of our mission will live as we move forward in 2026.” 

Oasis Arts will “focus on presenting work in other venues across the Bay Area” and “continue to celebrate and elevate queer artistry without the limitations of a single location,” the release stated.

“By closing the doors of the club, we’re opening up a world of new possibilities,” Drollinger stated. “We’re pivoting like we always have – boldly, creatively, and with community at our core. Necessity is the mother of invention, and we’re already imagining what’s next.”

Oasis Arts is asking for donations . The club itself, at 298 11th Street, will continue having events for the rest of 2025.

“The hardest part of all of this is losing a physical space that means so much to so many people,” stated Snaxx, Oasis’ director of programs and staff. “From our staff, to our performers, casts, crews, and patrons, Oasis has created a culture unlike any other venue. This is all very painful and sad, but I can't help but smile through the tears for getting to be a part of something so important, so transformative, so 'only-in-San Francisco.' And it couldn't have existed without every person who’s come through our doors to tip, to take the stage, to hug, to sing, to be in community.” 

Updated: 7/22/25: This article has been updated with comments from the Office of Economic and Workforce Development.