Cuff Complex, also known as The Cuff,[1] is a gay bar and nightclub in Seattle, Washington, in the United States.

Cuff Complex
The Cuff
The bar's exterior in 2012
Cuff Complex is located in Washington (state)
Cuff Complex
Cuff Complex
Location in Washington
Address1533 13th Avenue
LocationSeattle, Washington, United States
Coordinates47°36′54″N 122°18′57″W / 47.61511°N 122.31584°W / 47.61511; -122.31584
TypeGay bar, nightclub
Opened1993 (1993)
Website
cuffcomplex.com

Description and history

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Cuff Complex is located at 1533 13th Avenue in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. The business features four bars and a large deck. It attracts a diverse crowd, but is known for leather.[2]

The bar was established by two men who wanted a "positive social outlet for people who were into leather, Levi's and uniforms". Cuff, Ltd. was created in December 1992 and building construction began in January 1993. Randy Fields purchased Cuff in 2004. The bar celebrated its twentieth anniversary in March 2013.[3]

Cuff Complex hosts meetings and social gatherings for Northwest Bears,[4] POZ Seattle (a grassroots organization of HIV gay men),[5] Seattle Men in Leather,[6] the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and the Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf.[7] It also hosts an annual Sunday Pride Street Party.[8]

Reception

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In 1995 and 2001, Cuff Complex received the Business of the Year award as part of the Pantheon of Leather Awards.[9]

In 2009, Seattle Weekly said of the bar's clientele, "Whereas gay clubs like Neighbours and R-Place have been infiltrated by heteros in recent years, the Cuff still retains a predominantly gay male crowd. Maybe it's the sex shop full of cock rings and flogs. Or the portrait of a lion having sex with a dude on the wall. Or the fact that ladies are quarantined to a single unisex bathroom. Whatever the reason, vaginas are few and far between at the Cuff."[10]

References

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  1. ^ "The Cuff Seattle". Time Out. 22 July 2015. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  2. ^ "Cuff Complex". The Stranger. Index Newspapers. ISSN 1935-9004. Archived from the original on November 27, 2015. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  3. ^ "Happy 20th birthday to Capitol Hill's The Cuff — Plus, a brief history". Capitol Hill Seattle Blog. March 23, 2013. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  4. ^ "Weekly Events". Northwest Bears. Archived from the original on November 6, 2014. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  5. ^ "POZ Seattle". POZ Seattle. Archived from the original on January 15, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  6. ^ "Events". Seattle Men in Leather. Archived from the original on January 15, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  7. ^ Greer, Anthony. "Celebrating Seattle's Gay deaf community". Seattle Gay News. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  8. ^ "The Cuff Finally Announces Pride Line-Up: Jessica Sutta, Colton Ford Headline". Seattle Gay Scene. June 11, 2014. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  9. ^ 🖉"Pantheon of Leather Awards All Time Recipients - The Leather Journal". www.theleatherjournal.com. Archived from the original on 2015-03-25. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
  10. ^ Hobart, Erika (September 21, 2009). "Ragin' Asian: Sorry, Vanilla Is Not Available at The Cuff". Seattle Weekly. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
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