Massachusetts Bar Faces Financial Ruin After Mask Policy Shift Triggers Community Backlash
Last Ditch Bar in Greenfield, Massachusetts, is facing closure after a decision to make masks optional on Saturdays sparked a severe community boycott. The bar, which opened in 2025 with strict accessibility rules, attempted to boost revenue by relaxing its mask mandate for one night a week. This move triggered intense outrage from local queer and disabled patrons, who labeled the change a 'mass disabling event.' The backlash led to empty venues, unpaid bills, and the departure of two of the three owners, leaving the remaining owner, Jackie Matellian, struggling to pay rent and staff.
