Market may remain a gay venue

Commercial Rd gay nightclub The Market may remain a gay venue following news last week that current owner Spiro Condos has put the business up for sale.

Speaking on Spiro’s behalf, brother George Condos told Southern Star Observer a number of buyers have shown interest in the premises, including one keen on maintaining the club as a gay bar.

Condos said buyers who want to continue running The Market as a gay venue will be given top priority.
“There are no guarantees,” Condos said.

“Spiro has offers coming in, but any developers are being struck off the list.

“He’ll consider offers to continue [The Market] as a gay nightclub regardless of money.”

Not giving away too much, Condos said Spiro had already been contacted by a serious buyer who would keep the venue gay.

“It’s a person known to people, but it’s the person you’d least expect,” he said.

Condos said Spiro decided to sell the business after 11 years because he needed a break.

“He was still enjoying it and had passion, but as far as Spiro is concerned it’s something you need to give 100 percent to and after more than 10 years, he thought he couldn’t be 80 percent [committed].

“It was the right time to go.”

Although anecdotal evidence suggests Commercial Rd is not attracting the gay crowds it once did, Condos said The Market was still attracting a good crowd, however, it had been hit with strict liquor licensing laws in recent years and had felt the effects of the global financial crisis.

“We still have 1000 [patrons] through a week,” he said.

“But there’s been a shift culturally. Basically there are more options available generally.”

Condos said events have been planned at the club up until New Year’s Eve. Depending on a sale, the venue is likely to continue running until March 2011.