AWOL Bar
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| Address | 49 Parsons Avenue |
|---|---|
| Location | Olde Towne East, Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 39°57′48″N 82°58′55″W / 39.96335°N 82.981878°WCoordinates: 39°57′48″N 82°58′55″W / 39.96335°N 82.981878°W Fatal error: The format of the coordinate could not be determined. Parsing failed. |
| Owner | Matt Mefferd |
| Type | Gay bar, nightclub |
| Opened | 1999 |
| Website | |
| awolbar | |
AWOL Bar, commonly known as AWOL, is a gay bar and nightclub in the Olde Towne East neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. Established in 1999, the military-themed venue consists of a neighborhood-style bar, a large outdoor patio and a separate dance and event space.[1][2]
AWOL has operated for more than 25 years and has hosted karaoke, drag, dance parties, electronic music events and programming associated with Columbus's LGBTQ, leather and fetish communities.[3][4]
The bar is owned by Matt Mefferd, who is also associated with Cavan Irish Pub, an LGBTQ Irish pub in Columbus's Merion Village neighborhood.[5][6]
History
AWOL's official website dates the bar's establishment to 1999.[1] Business records maintained by the Better Business Bureau list the underlying company as having begun and incorporated on October 6, 1998, and identify Matt Mefferd as its owner.[5] The bar opened at 49 Parsons Avenue in Olde Towne East, immediately east of downtown Columbus.
By 2009, Mefferd described himself as having approximately a decade of experience owning bars in Columbus. In an interview with Columbus Underground, he cited his experience at AWOL as an influence on his decision to develop another neighborhood LGBTQ bar, Cavan Irish Pub.[6]
AWOL remained in operation through broader changes to Columbus LGBTQ nightlife during the 2000s and 2010s. A later Columbus Navigator guide described it as having served the local gay community for approximately two decades and identified karaoke and dancing among its established programming.[3]
The bar continued to operate through the COVID-19 pandemic and into the 2020s. By 2026, it remained open seven days a week and continued to describe itself as a bar, patio and nightclub.[1]
Venue
AWOL is located at 49 Parsons Avenue in Olde Towne East.[2][1] Its visual identity incorporates a military theme, including the name "AWOL", an acronym for the military phrase "absent without leave".[7]
The venue is divided between a quieter front bar and a larger dance and entertainment area, with an outdoor patio connecting the spaces. The Columbus Dispatch described AWOL in 2026 as having "two separate spaces" consisting of a lively dance floor and a calmer bar.[2]
The rear dance and event space has also been known as The Barracks. LGBTQ nightlife guides have described it as a multifunctional dance and event room connected to AWOL's front bar through the patio.[8]
Programming
AWOL hosts recurring nightlife programming including karaoke, show-tune nights, line-dancing events, DJs and themed dance parties.[1] Its programming has also included drag shows and leather- and fetish-oriented events.[7]
By 2024, electronic music programming had become part of the venue's schedule. The Lantern identified DJ Melanie Pagani as a resident DJ at AWOL and reported that she hosted a monthly dance event at the bar called Fever.[4]
The venue has also hosted drag pageants. The Miss Gay Columbus America preliminary competition was held at The Barracks at AWOL in 2015, and subsequent editions of the competition have also been staged at AWOL.[9]
In 2026, AWOL hosted multiple dance parties in conjunction with the Gay Softball World Series, which brought more than 200 teams from the United States and Canada to Columbus. The Columbus Dispatch included AWOL among the city's LGBTQ nightlife venues serving tournament participants and reported that the bar scheduled World Series dance parties on September 3, 4 and 5.[2]
Community involvement
AWOL has hosted events and fundraisers involving Columbus LGBTQ organizations and community groups.
In 2018, the venue hosted the LGBTQties Burlesque & Variety Show, a fundraiser for Columbus Community Pride featuring queer and transgender performers of color. Proceeds from the event benefited that year's community Pride celebration.[10]
AWOL has also participated in events organized by the Columbus Lesbian & Gay Softball Association. The organization listed AWOL as an experience partner for the 39th annual Bat-n-Rouge charity drag softball event in 2026.[11]
The bar has additionally served as an off-site venue for CLAW, a leather and fetish convention that moved to Columbus. CLAW programming at AWOL has included dance parties, tea dances, gear events and volunteer gatherings.[12]
Cavan Irish Pub
In 2009, Mefferd and partners Carolyn Frey, Jason Medlock and Heather Lashaway established Cavan Irish Pub at 1409 South High Street in the Merion Village area of Columbus.[6]
Mefferd said his experience operating AWOL demonstrated how a neighborhood LGBTQ bar could create a sense of community and influenced his decision to locate Cavan in an established residential neighborhood. He and his partners developed Cavan as an Irish-themed pub intended to serve an inclusive clientele rather than being identified primarily with gay men or lesbians.[6]
Local listings have described Cavan as AWOL's sister bar.[13] The two venues also share management connections; the Better Business Bureau identifies Mefferd as the owner of both AWOL and Cavan, while Cavan's website directs management correspondence to an AWOL Bar email address.[5][14][15]
See also
- Axis Nightclub
- Cavan Irish Pub
- District West
- Slammers
- Union Cafe
- Gay bar
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "AWOL Columbus". AWOL Bar. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Vitale, Bob (August 29, 2026). "Columbus LGBTQ+ bars, restaurants ready for Gay Softball World Series". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved September 12, 2026 – via AOL.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Summit Music Hall to host DJs Jana Rush, Sinceer and Melanie Pagani Saturday at Headcleaner event". The Lantern. October 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "AWOL Bar". Better Business Bureau. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Evans, Walker (November 19, 2009). "Cavan Irish Pub Opening Soon in Merion Village". Columbus Underground. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "AWOL". Travel Gay. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
- ↑ "AWOL Bar — Gay Bar in Columbus, Ohio". Out x Out. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
- ↑ "Kiley Dash-West". Our Community Roots. February 21, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
- ↑ "LGBTQties Burlesque & Variety Show". Columbus Community Pride. May 24, 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
- ↑ "2026 Bat-n-Rouge". Columbus Lesbian & Gay Softball Association. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
- ↑ "Events Schedule". CLAW. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
- ↑ "Cavan Irish Pub". Step Out Columbus. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
- ↑ "Cavan Irish Pub". Better Business Bureau. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
- ↑ "Staff". Cavan Irish Pub. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
External links
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