Club Ripples – Long Beach’s Queer Dance Beacon (1972 – 2019)
For nearly five decades, Club Ripples stood where ocean breeze met dance floor, serving as Long Beach’s first gay dance club and a cornerstone of the SoCal LGBTQ+ nightlife community. The venue opened in 1972 as a dedicated queer space and was run for decades by local icons John Garcia and Larry Hebert, who took full ownership by 1980.
Ripples wasn’t just a place to grab a drink — it was a home away from home where generations of queer Angelenos and beach lovers gathered to dance, connect, and celebrate identity. From packed dance nights and themed events to its classic two-story layout facing the waves, Ripples embodied a laid-back yet electric spirit that made it a Belmont Shore landmark.
Through highs and lows — societal pushback in its early years, the AIDS crisis, evolving nightlife trends, and even a makeover courtesy of Tabatha Takes Over — Ripples remained a testament to queer resilience and community. Though it closed its doors on December 1, 2019, its legacy lives on in every story told on its dance floor.
