The Cuff Gets New Owner

March 28, 2025• byMichael Strangeways

The cat is out of the bag…it’s been a deal being worked on for weeks, but today the current owner of the Cuff Complex, Joey Burgess confirmed that the popular Capitol gay bar and nightclub he purchased in 2019 right before Covid struck, has been sold to a new owner, Scott Walent.

from Joey Burgess:

Some businesses truly become the backbone of a neighborhood, and we sincerely hope they continue to thrive for generations to come. The Cuff Complex is one of those special places for us. We take great pride in having been stewards of this business, navigating it through the challenges of the pandemic and the ups and downs of the past five years.

We are absolutely thrilled to pass the torch to Scott Walent and his talented team, confident that they will carry the Cuff Complex into its exciting next chapter. As for our team, after years of growth and hard work, we’re looking forward to taking a well deserved break and focus on the new projects and goals that lie ahead.
– Joey Burgess

The transfer of ownership should be complete by mid April according to Burgess. Planning and booking of the popular annual Cuff Pride Festival has already begun and Burgess will help Walent with production of the event in June.

The Cuff Complex has been a popular gay bar and night club at 13th and Pine on Capitol Hill since opening in 1993, with an emphasis on events for the leather and fetish communities. The Friday and Saturday night dance nights have featured world class djs from around the world.

Burgess/Hall own several other Capitol Hill business including Queer/Bar, Elliott Bay Book Company, and Oddfellows Cafe.

About the Author: Michael Strangeways

As the Editorial Director/Co-Owner, Michael Strangeways writes, edits and does about a million other jobs for Seattle Gay Scene, Puget Sound's most visited LGBTQ news, arts and entertainment website now celebrating its 14th year as a media outlet. A semi-proud Midwesterner by birth, he's lived in Seattle since 2000. He's also a film producer who would like you to check out the Jinkx Monsoon documentary, "Drag Becomes Him" now available on Amazon.com. In his spare time, he gets slightly obsessive about his love for old movies, challenging theater, "otters", vodka, chocolate, "I,Claudius", Lizzie Borden, real books made out of paper, disaster films, show tunes, Weimar era Germany, flea markets, pop surrealistic art, the sex lives of Hollywood actors both living and dead, kitties, chicken fried steak, haute couture and David Bowie. But, not necessarily in that order.