Orlando’s queer café-meets-nightspot Heatwave is closing after just about half a year in business, but not before throwing one last party.
The venue at 741 W. Church St. in Parramore announced on social media it will close Sunday, March 8, with one final weekend of events — billed as a “grand closing.”
“Running a space like Heatwave has been one of the most exciting (and hardest) things we’ve ever done,” owners Kevin Varanai and Andrea Dunn wrote in the announcement. “Our vision was to create an elevated place where queer and like-minded people could gather, connect, perform, celebrate, and build community together. We deserve nice things too!”
Heatwave opened in August 2025 in the former home of the LGBTQ+ bar Stonewall, which abruptly closed at the end of 2021. The multi-story venue was designed as a hybrid concept combining café culture with nightlife and performance.
The space included the Green Room, which served coffee during the day before transforming into a bar at night, an upstairs lounge called Views, and an outdoor terrace designed for social gatherings.
But the owners said operating such a large venue proved financially difficult.
“While the love for the space has been real, the financial realities of operating this large of a venue has been tougher than we hoped, especially after the countless roadblocks we’ve faced getting open,” the owners wrote.
Rather than quietly fading out, Heatwave plans to celebrate its final days with the events already on its calendar.
“This isn’t the ending we imagined, but we’re incredibly proud of what was created here and deeply grateful to everyone who helped bring it to life,” the post said.
“If Heatwave meant something to you, come say goodbye and tip your staff one last time.”
