FAULTLINE BAR CHANGES HANDS

Jorge Usatorres

As a parting show of his appreciation, former owner Jorge Usatorres has set up two scholarship awards for LGBTQI students at Los Angeles City College.

BY PAULO MURILLO

Jorge Usatorres, the financial executive who saved, rebranded and revived the Faultline, one of L.A.’s oldest gay bars, announced last month that he is selling the bar, which he bought in 2014. 

  “In so many ways I regret leaving Faultline,” Usatorres said. “The people I’ve worked with — staff, promoters, DJ’s, performers — are so amazing. I feel so happy to have met them. But I have accomplished what I set out to accomplish, the saving of a gay landmark. Now I’m ready for new challenges.”

  Faultline is a descendent of The Stud, a Levi/leather cruise bar that opened on 4216 Melrose Ave. east of the 101 about 40 years ago. Usatorres made a number of subtle changes to Faultline’s interior and more obvious changes to its vibe during his ownership. 

“My goal,” Usatorres said, “was to revive, rebrand, reorganize and ultimately save the iconic Faultline brand.”

As a parting show of his appreciation to the LGBTQI community, Usatorres has set up two scholarship awards for LGBTQI students at Los Angeles City Collage. 

Usatorres is selling Faultline to the Boldwell Inc. group. Boldwell has committed itself to having the Faultline continue to serve the LGBTQI community into the future.

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