The Quest
The Quest or Quest Club is a 24-hour gay/alternative dance club located at 416 24th Street South, at the northwest corner of 5th Avenue South on Block 165 in Birmingham's Southside. The business operates as a private club, requiring patrons to join as members, or to be signed in as guests by existing members, at the door.
The club opened in 1982 and secured its permanent liquor and dance licenses in April 1983. It featured techno and pop dance music spun by DJ Steve Haynes. It also hosted regular feature drag shows and competitions. "Ladies' Nights" on Saturdays featured lesbian shows. Don Sparks has owned the club since the late 2010s.
In August 2024 the Quest's application for renewal of their alcohol, dancing and billiard licenses was tabled by the Birmingham City Council's Public Safety Committee pending a review of whether repeated incidents at the club amounted to a public nuisance. At their September 10 meeting the council voted not to renew those licenses, expressing a lack of confidence in security procedures. Club attorney Richard Mauk petitioned for a restraining order, which was initially granted by Judge Mershell Hatcher, but vacated a few days later.
Meanwhile the family of Terrance Brown, who was one of two men killed in a shooting at the club on May 24, named The Quest as a defendant in a wrongful death suit. The vacant building was heavily damaged by fire on March 5, 2026.
References
- McAlister, Laura, Joe O'Donnell, Mary Ellen Stancill and Carla Jean Whitley (no date) "The Drinker's Dozen" Birmingham magazine
- Gauthier, Olivia (August 13, 2024) "Council delays Quest Club licensing decisions for further safety review." ABC3340.com
- Garrison, Greg (September 10, 2024) "Birmingham pulls license for historic LGBTQ club after double homicide." AL.com
- Paepcke, Jon (September 18, 2024) "Quest Club is fighting Birmingham over license revocation." wvtm13.com
- Koplowitz, Howard (September 20, 2024) "Birmingham can close LGBTQ club that was scene of double homicide, judge rules." AL.com