Cathedral City, CA

Members of the LGBTQIA+ community and friends have reason to celebrate. The Roost Lounge located in Downtown Cathedral City, steps from the Mary Pickford Theater, have successfully completed their buildout to expand. This was done after two years working through 8 contractors, 3 architects, and city permits according to co-owner Jeff McDonald.

McDonald started as a bartender at the Roost in 2019 and later learned the former owner was considering closing down the bar. He saw an opportunity and decided to purchase the business with co owner Charles Thomas in the summer of 2019, just months before Covid hit the United States.

Now the pair have essentially doubled the size of The Roost giving the Palm Springs LGBTQIA+ scene a run for its money.

The reason for the expansion was simple. The Roost has built a steady and loyal crowd and needed more room. The establishment hosts live karaoke, entertainment, and monthly drag shows where employees go into drag to raise money for several charities including the Cathedral City Senior Center, the Boys and Girls Public Cathedral City, Martha’s Kitchen, and the list goes on.

(Patrons of The Roost enjoying the new space)

Just in the past seven months alone, shows at The Roost have raised 90K for local charities. In May, they are giving a 10K scholarship to a Cathedral City High School Student that is graduating this year and, it doesn’t stop there. The Roost recently received the visionary award from Tools For Tomorrow, an afterschool arts program.

The Roost has grown into a neighborhood bar where the camaraderie is what brings the crowd there says McDonald. He enjoys seeing patrons come into his establishment, meet people they’ve never met before, pull tables together, and become friends.

Patrons also get to enjoy several food options. The Roost offers dining options from three local restaurants, Trilussa, Capizzi’s, and Desert Thai.

Asking McDonald to comment on his overall feeling of the expansion of The Roost he says, “his lady baby is growing up, and she needed more space.”

The Roost is located at 68718 E Palm Canyon Dr Ste 203, Cathedral City, CA 92234 and can be found online here.

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