Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Just one month after hosting a vibrant Pride celebration, Halo Nightclub on Long Beach Road in Oceanside—one of the only LGBTQ+–focused nightlife venues in Nassau County—officially closed its doors on June 15. Long Beach resident and co‑owner Kyle Savage cited an untenable financial standoff with the building’s landlord, whose unwillingness to negotiate payment plans left the club no choice but to cease operations. The landlord’s demands weren’t unique to Halo, Savage said.
“Out of six storefronts in the building, five are now vacant,” he noted. “He’d rather keep the spaces empty than work with tenants on realistic payment arrangements.”
The previous month, Halo had tallied nearly $20,000 in back rent. Despite court efforts to delay eviction proceedings and a GoFundMe campaign that raised roughly $3,000, Savage says it became clear the matter couldn’t be delayed anymore.
“Once I started talking with neighboring businesses,” Savage recalled, “I realized we weren’t going to win this fight with him. It just wasn’t worth continuing to sink money and time into it.”
Savage is pivoting to a series of pop‑up LGBTQ+ events across Long Beach and beyond. He plans to leverage his experience designing large‑scale dance and drag shows under his private event production company, By the House Collective.
“I’m in talks with the Allegria Hotel on the water,” Savage said. “They’re interested in hosting a monthly pop‑up specifically for the LGBTQ+ community.”
These itinerant parties will feature many of the same performers, DJs, and aerial acts that made Halo’s Pride Music Festival a success, allowing Savage to continue fostering safe, celebratory spaces without the overhead of a permanent venue.
Halo opened its doors in January 2024 following an eight‑month delay in securing its liquor license—time during which Savage still paid full rent. The space quickly became a sanctuary: hosting drag shows, community fundraisers (including collaborations with the Long Island Pride Lions Club, and HIV/AIDS awareness events. Savage believes other factors dampened consistent attendance.
He points to vandalism, social‑media impersonation campaigns, and broader societal fears around hate crimes as barriers that discouraged patrons from venturing out. He also notes that online dating apps can tempt the community to socialize digitally rather than in person.
“A space like Halo only survives when the community shows up consistently,” he said. “We created magic here, but the turnout ultimately wasn’t enough to cover our costs.”
Savage remains committed to the mission of queer‑owned nightlife on Long Island. He’s optimistic that the Allegria partnership can serve as a blueprint for future permanent venues.
“I’ll always fight for my community,” Savage affirmed. “If the right opportunity presents itself, I’d love to pursue another brick‑and‑mortar space. But for now, these pop‑ups will keep the spirit of Halo alive.”
