Sad news for gay club-goers today as the five-year-old nightclub Beatbox (314 11th Street) has announced it will shut down for good as of July 3, the weekend following Gay Pride. The announcement was made yesterday via a press release on Facebook by co-owners Brian Kent, Paul Saccone, and Andy Zivic. The trio says that the club has been sold — and given its prime location on SF's club row, 11th Street, it is likely to remain a nightlife venue, though not likely an exclusively gay one — and if I had to surmise some of the reason behind the closure, the opening of Oasis just a half block away, 18 months ago, which is an exclusively gay club and performance venue, has likely taken away a portion of Beatbox's weekend business, not to mention with lower cover charges.

Gay fans of house music, though, and the five-year-old party "Locoya’s I Just Want To F*ckin’ Dance" will definitely not like this news, though, as it seems like exclusively gay venues continue to disappear citywide.

Hoodline notes that the club will go out with a bang, with a final closing party from Locoya on Saturday, July 2, not to mention the annual Pride weekend anniversary party which you can find early-bird tickets to here.

Says general manager Kent via the release, "We've had an incredible five years and would like to thank all of our loyal customers for supporting Beatbox."

Check out the full schedule of events starting this weekend, which includes a visit from Australian faux air hostess/comedienne Pam Ann, a.k.a. Caroline Reid on June 9, and a Bearracuda Pride Party on June 24.