In 1991, the Abbey was founded by investment banker David Cooley as a coffeehouse on the east side of
Robertson Boulevard. Three years later, the Abbey moved into a former pottery shop across the street. In its early years, The Abbey hosted community activists such as
ACT UP. The Abbey began allowing straight bachelorette parties after
Proposition 8, which banned
same-sex marriage in California, was overturned. In 2017,
E! released
What Happens at The Abbey, a reality television show starring Cooley and employees of The Abbey. The Abbey temporarily closed four times
due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After being shown security footage, the patron retracted the claim and said her drink had not been tampered with. The Abbey filed a $5million
defamation lawsuit, claiming that the patron broke contract terms by continuing to make allegations after having agreed to make a correction statement. In 2024,
The 19th published a report alleging a pattern of druggings and sexual assaults at the Abbey.
The 19th reported that they investigated claims from 2007 to 2023, seven of which had resulted in a lawsuit. Cooley said that while under SBE ownership, he "made all the decisions". SBE and its CEO
Sam Nazarian had plans to expand the Abbey to other cities. There was belief that the Abbey would open a venue in the
Boystown neighborhood of
Chicago, but this did not happen. In 2015, Cooley bought his stake back, becoming sole owner. The Abbey then opened The Chapel At The Abbey, a "cocktail-focused
nightclub", at the newly-acquired location. In 2019, the Abbey opened a "bar inside a bar" called Within. West Hollywood mayor
Sepi Shyne said, "The city of West Hollywood has been aware for some time that David Cooley [...] is retiring and has been considering selling." She also said, "It’s the city’s hope that The Abbey will continue, under future ownership, to be a ground-breaking LGBTQ destination in the city’s Rainbow District for many years into the future." According to the
Business Journal, a source "familiar with the business" said, "[Cooley] told [Shyne] that he had never before thought of closing until now seeing their policy destroying us[...] The policy adds another million dollars to the Abbey's expenses". In November 2023, The Abbey Food & Bar announced the sale of the Abbey and the Chapel to entrepreneur Tristan Schukraft for a reported $45,000,000. == See also ==