Local brewery puts drag performances/indoor events on pause, blames neighbor complaints

Trace Brewing announced a change to its indoor entertainment lineup amid a dispute with neighbors. The Bloomfield brewery is described by the team as a safe and welcoming space where diversity is celebrated. “A big part of our core identity has been to really elevate and make space for folks who don’t normally go to breweries. We’re talking about, you know, folks who are queer, folks who are people of color, women, people in the BIPOC community, LGBTQIA+ community,” said Aadam Soorma, who is head of marketing for Trace Brewing.Soorma said they stopped holding outdoor events on their patio in late 2024 after they were cited, following noise complaints from neighbors. Everything was moved inside. Yet, according to Soorma, undercover state Liquor Control Enforcement officers have since shown up to their events. “If you’re going to call state police and they show up undercover and armed through a crowd in which we’re doing, like, a drag brunch or a hip hop show or any kind of like a performance. It just felt like it wasn’t safe for anyone,” Soorma told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 reporter Jordan Cioppa. “And they only come if they’re called, for a complaint.”On Thursday, the brewery announced on social media that the drag performances and other indoor DJ sets were put on pause to keep the community safe. In the post, the brewery stated a small group of neighbors “have spent years weaponizing an obscure Pennsylvania Liquor Control Enforcement law.” The post accused members of the neighborhood group of being “racists and homophobes.”“We’re not a bunch of homophobic, racist people who don’t want queer people or people of color in our neighborhood. I’m literally a lesbian who just, like, was so excited to move to the city because it’s so queer and has such a culture,” said Faith Saenz, who lives near Trace. Saenz said the indoor events at the brewery aren’t the problem. “All of their drag shows have been inside, and we’ve never complained about indoor events. I haven’t. I’ve never heard of anyone else here doing that,” said Saenz. “The events that we’ve been having trouble with are when they block our alleyway off, and they have like a big outdoor event. It’s so, so loud.”Saenz was referring to outdoor events held next to the brewery on Clement Way, which she said usually last for hours on Sundays. According to Soorma, those events do not take place on the Trace property. “The artists who activate Clement Way – this is not that,” Soorma said. “…those special event permits that exist in Clement Way will continue because those are reviewed, permitted, and approved by the city. Those permits are pulled by the artists. Those are a separate entity of Trace”The neighbors pointed out that Trace has promoted the events in the past. Saenz said she found the brewery’s message on social media frustrating. “It breaks my heart that everyone believes that there are people who don’t want them here, when I haven’t seen that to be true, and I certainly don’t feel that way,” Saenz said. Trace applied for a new Amusement Permit, but the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board denied the application last month.

PITTSBURGH —

Trace Brewing announced a change to its indoor entertainment lineup amid a dispute with neighbors.

The Bloomfield brewery is described by the team as a safe and welcoming space where diversity is celebrated.

“A big part of our core identity has been to really elevate and make space for folks who don’t normally go to breweries. We’re talking about, you know, folks who are queer, folks who are people of color, women, people in the BIPOC community, LGBTQIA+ community,” said Aadam Soorma, who is head of marketing for Trace Brewing.

Soorma said they stopped holding outdoor events on their patio in late 2024 after they were cited, following noise complaints from neighbors. Everything was moved inside.

Yet, according to Soorma, undercover state Liquor Control Enforcement officers have since shown up to their events.

“If you’re going to call state police and they show up undercover and armed through a crowd in which we’re doing, like, a drag brunch or a hip hop show or any kind of like a performance. It just felt like it wasn’t safe for anyone,” Soorma told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 reporter Jordan Cioppa. “And they only come if they’re called, for a complaint.”

On Thursday, the brewery announced on social media that the drag performances and other indoor DJ sets were put on pause to keep the community safe.

In the post, the brewery stated a small group of neighbors “have spent years weaponizing an obscure Pennsylvania Liquor Control Enforcement law.”

The post accused members of the neighborhood group of being “racists and homophobes.”

“We’re not a bunch of homophobic, racist people who don’t want queer people or people of color in our neighborhood. I’m literally a lesbian who just, like, was so excited to move to the city because it’s so queer and has such a culture,” said Faith Saenz, who lives near Trace.

Saenz said the indoor events at the brewery aren’t the problem.

“All of their drag shows have been inside, and we’ve never complained about indoor events. I haven’t. I’ve never heard of anyone else here doing that,” said Saenz. “The events that we’ve been having trouble with are when they block our alleyway off, and they have like a big outdoor event. It’s so, so loud.”

Saenz was referring to outdoor events held next to the brewery on Clement Way, which she said usually last for hours on Sundays.

According to Soorma, those events do not take place on the Trace property.

“The artists who activate Clement Way – this is not that,” Soorma said. “…those special event permits that exist in Clement Way will continue because those are reviewed, permitted, and approved by the city. Those permits are pulled by the artists. Those are a separate entity of Trace”

The neighbors pointed out that Trace has promoted the events in the past.

Saenz said she found the brewery’s message on social media frustrating.

“It breaks my heart that everyone believes that there are people who don’t want them here, when I haven’t seen that to be true, and I certainly don’t feel that way,” Saenz said.

Trace applied for a new Amusement Permit, but the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board denied the application last month.