COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – Almost a year has passed since the accidental fire forced many businesses to close An LGBTQ bar is set to open among these closures in Downtown Colorado Springs.

Icon owners say they are ready to open on Friday, November 8. an effort that lasted almost a year to recoup their losses, raise money and rebuild in a new location.

“We weren’t sure if it was going to work the first time,” Wolfe said of their first opening in 2020. “We won best bar, you know, overall best bar in Colorado Springs by the community. Then when the fire broke out, whether we would do it again or not.” “We really thought it was necessary.”

Months after the fire, the homeowners announced on Instagram that they were raising money to reopen.

“That’s when we really felt … the love coming out of the community,” Wolfe said.

“It’s clear that people want this business to come back, and we’re thrilled to be able to do that,” Franklin continued.

This support came from the Colorado Springs community as well as donors across the country; Big names like Gloria Estefan donated to help them.

“He reached out to us personally, we had an interaction, he was very sweet and just saw the need for the space and also the fact that it was grounded in music really spoke to him,” Wolfe said.

With this support and grant from the state, The property owners said they needed a safe space for the LGBTQ community, especially in the heart of downtown.

“There is currently no official gay bar or space of any kind downtown,” Franklin said. “There are definitely gay-friendly places that we like to go to and we know our customers are welcome, but no one’s saying that officially. You know, we’re a gay bar and we’re here for the community that’s been through a lot, not just in the last couple of years and of course not with the shooting at Club Q.” , but also, historically, Colorado Springs has been through a lot for every queer person like me who was born and raised here.”

This is the need they say they want to fill.

“We felt compelled to join the community that has supported us over the last four years,” Wolfe said. “I’m excited to welcome people into their homes.”

Icons will reopen its doors at their new location near Kiowa and N. Cascade on November 8th.

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