Pride center closes, local businessman takes over annual Pride Fest

The Colorado Springs Pride Center announced Monday that it has closed its doors forever.

The 37-year-old center was one of the oldest LGBT community centers in the nation.

A message on the center’s web site says “Unretired debt from years past, as well as management issues, combined to create an untenable situation and one that could not be overcome without placing the nonprofit in further straits.”

The decision to close the pride center was made on Thursday.

The center was behind the annual Colorado Springs Pride Fest event. It says the festival, which turns 25 this year, will go on.

Nic Grzecka, owner of Club Q and Vbar in Colorado Springs, announced he will spearhead the creation of a new 501(c)3 non-profit called Colorado Springs Pride Fest, Inc.

The center says proceeds from the festival will be donated to local LGBT nonprofits. More than 50,000 people attended the event in 2014.

The 2015 Colorado Springs Pride Fest is scheduled for July 18 and 19.