Quinn Gallagher's Bar Faces Backlash After Controversial Theater Incident With Lauren Boebert

Quinn Gallagher's bar, the Hooch Craft Cocktail Bar in Aspen, Colorado, has found itself in hot water recently. The establishment has been inundated with negative reviews following the revelation that Gallagher was on a date with Colorado Representative Lauren Boebert during a controversial incident at a Denver theater. This unexpected connection has sparked outrage among customers, leading to a flurry of unfavorable online feedback.

The incident occurred on September 10, when Gallagher and Boebert were ejected from a performance of Beetlejuice: The Musical at the Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre. Reports indicate that they were removed for vaping, singing loudly, using their phones, and engaging in inappropriate behavior. Although the theater did not specifically name Boebert, security footage clearly showed her being escorted out alongside Gallagher.

Boebert's campaign manager later confirmed her removal from the venue. Initially, she denied the allegations of vaping but later admitted to "singing along, laughing, and enjoying herself." In light of the backlash, Boebert issued an apology, expressing regret for the unwanted attention her actions had brought to the community. She stated, "While none of my actions or words as a private citizen that night were intended to be malicious or meant to cause harm, the reality is they did and I regret that."

In her apology, Boebert added, "There's no perfect blueprint for going through a public and difficult divorce, which over the past few months has made for a challenging personal time for me and my entire family. I've tried to handle it with strength and grace as best I can, but I simply fell short of my values on Sunday. That's unacceptable, and I'm sorry."

Following the incident, the Hooch Craft Cocktail Bar, which Gallagher co-owns with Pat Flanigan, was bombarded with negative reviews across social media platforms. Customers cited Gallagher's relationship with Boebert, which reportedly began a few months ago, as a key reason for their discontent. Many found it hypocritical that the bar had hosted drag shows in the past while Gallagher was dating someone known for her anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-drag views.

The Hooch Craft Cocktail Bar has previously supported the LGBTQ+ community by hosting events such as a women's party for Aspen Gay Ski Week and a "Winter Wonderland Burlesque & Drag Show." However, in a June 2022 post, Boebert had publicly stated, "Take your children to Church, not drag bars," which has fueled further backlash against Gallagher's bar.

As the controversy unfolds, some customers have taken to Facebook to express their disdain. One user wrote, "Gotta love a place who will take your money but hang out with bigots who deem you worthless and vote against your very business existing. Save your money, skip this bar." Another added, "Apparently whatever core values co-owner Quinn Gallagher claimed to possess were thrown out the window when he met Trailer Trash Queen Lauren Boebert." Such sentiments have contributed to the bar's challenging reputation.

Despite the deluge of negative feedback, the Hooch Craft Cocktail Bar maintains a respectable 4.4-star rating on Google Maps. Meanwhile, Boebert, who has served two terms in Congress, is currently campaigning for reelection in Colorado's 3rd District. She filed for divorce from her husband, Jayson Boebert, in May, and the couple shares four sons.

As the fallout from this incident continues, Newsweek reached out to Boebert's team for comments via email on Monday. However, the email address listed for the Hooch Craft Cocktail Bar was reportedly unavailable at that time.