Do You Believe in Life After Lunchbox Candy?
- 39 minutes ago
- 6 min read
Sometimes a party ends. Not with a final track, but with an email.
After four years of building one of Berlin’s most beloved queer spaces, Lunchbox Candy came to an abrupt close—leaving behind a community, a language, and a feeling that couldn’t simply disappear overnight. What followed wasn’t a clean break, but something more complicated: a pause, a shift, and the question of what comes next.
Enter Tracey.
“I would say it’s a reaction. Tracey is a revolution. An evolution, if you will.”
Built by many of the same people who shaped what came before, Tracey doesn’t position itself as a replacement, but as a continuation of energy—reworked, expanded, and redefined. “A framework ended, but spirit can’t be owned.”
What emerges is something both familiar and entirely new. A party rooted in the same sense of belonging, but with a sharper sense of structure, intention, and growth. Or, as Adam puts it: “A little more grown-up, while still servicing the inner child.”
We spoke to Adam Munnings about endings, beginnings, and what it means to build something again—this time on your own terms.
Let’s address the elephant in the room. What actually happened to Lunchbox Candy, in your own words?
After an amazing four-year run with Lunchbox Candy, I received an email from the co-founder saying they wanted to step away. They explained that they had explored every option for how the party could move forward without them and decided it didn’t align.
Because they owned the trademark, they decided the final Lunchbox Candy had already happened in November and that it wouldn’t continue without their involvement, or at all.
Obviously this came as a huge shock because I wasn’t involved in that conversation. There wasn’t really an explanation beyond “some things don’t need explaining.”
“some things don’t need explaining.”
What was sad for me was seeing something so community-driven come down to one person’s decision. Lunchbox Candy was made successful by so many people.
So in short, I received an email very similar to the public statement that was shared later.
It’s not the decision itself that’s hard to understand. I completely respect that people move on and have other things to focus on. It was more the way it happened that was painful to navigate. I felt a huge responsibility to show up for the collective and the community and start figuring out what happens next.
Is Tracey a rebirth, a revenge, or just a glow-up?
I would say it’s a reaction.
“Tracey is a revolution. An evolution, if you will.”
There’s no need for revenge. There’s also no need for a glow-up because she’s perfect just as she is. Sometimes you just need to shed some skin and leap into your power horse vibes.
Tracey is something fresh and something new, built by a team who have been doing amazing things in Berlin nightlife for years.
Was there a moment where you thought, “okay… this is completely fucked”?
Definitely. Receiving that email felt like that.
But as things unfolded, there were also a lot of realizations about misalignment. Where myself and the greater collective actually stood in the eyes of the co-founder.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve taken away is that even with community projects, even with passion projects, even when you’re working with friends, communication matters. Have contracts. Have the tricky conversations that might feel uncomfortable.
It’s about knowing exactly where everyone stands so things don’t come as a surprise later.
There are still some tricky legal situations I’m navigating, which is painful. But at the end of the day my energy is focused on the future.
How much of Tracey is still Lunchbox Candy, and what have you deliberately left behind?Tracey is her own being. She’s her own identity.
But she is shaped by many of the same people who helped build Lunchbox Candy.
This moment gave us a chance to reflect, revise and offer people more agency and creative freedom within the collective. We really went back to the drawing board.
There will naturally be similarities because the community made the party and the creatives made the party. That collective joy will still be there.
But we are also leveling up. We’re refining the music bookings, reshaping the sonic identity, introducing an ambient floor and taking everything we learned over four years producing Lunchbox Candy and turning it into something completely fresh.
“A little more grown-up, while still servicing the inner child.”
For the community that feels a bit lost right now, what would you say to them?
“I would say, we got you.”
I would also say thank you.
All those memories and experiences connected to Lunchbox Candy were really about building a deeper connection with yourself and with each other. That spirit still lives within us.
So hold tight. We’ve been working tirelessly.
We know how much people loved what came before and we truly hope you love what Tracey has to offer just as much, if not more.
Is Tracey the same family, just under a new name?
In terms of the people involved, you could say she has the same family members.
But this is also a full transition. A metamorphosis.
Tracey is brought to life by many of the people you know and love from Lunchbox Candy. At the same time, she wouldn’t like to be called Lunchbox Candy with a new name, because that’s not what she is.
“She’s a full-grown, whole lot of woman.”
Who is Tracey? Give us the personality.
Tracey’s birthday is Easter Sunday, so we are about to find out who she is together.
But I can tell you this. She’s a party girl.
She shows up. She shakes her booty. She’s confident. She doesn’t deal with shame. She definitely doesn’t deal with nasty men.
“She’s spiritually grounded and chaotically cunty.”
She’s the life of the party, but she’s also the one who will sit with you outside at 6am and drop the wise words when you need them most.
If Tracey walked into the club, what’s she wearing and what’s her energy?
You never know what you’re going to get because Tracey is multifaceted.
But when she walks into a room she holds space. She takes up space. She’s present and optimistic about the world around her.
Maybe she’s wearing a cunty little skirt. Maybe she’s a clown. Maybe she’s a punk. Maybe she’s a monster. Maybe she’s wearing nothing at all.
“One thing is certain. She wears the look.The look never wears her.”
You’re not starting from zero. You’re starting from something that was taken away. Does that change how you build?
I wouldn’t say something was taken away.
“A framework ended, but spirit can’t be owned. Neither can creativity, queerness, agency or confidence.”
That said, we are building Tracey differently. The structure behind it matters.
Even though we’re working with close friends, we are putting proper frameworks in place. Contracts, business structure and clear communication.
We want to build something that protects the people involved while still maintaining a collective mindset.
From the back end things are more structured. From the front end it is still celebration.
What lessons from Lunchbox Candy are shaping Tracey?
Lunchbox Candy taught me so much about building community, creating immersive club culture and being a disruptor.
“The biggest lesson is trusting your gut, following your heart and doing something that feels authentic.”
Sometimes that means just fucking shit up a little.
There are also practical lessons. Logistics, administration and legal structures. Those are things we are taking very seriously this time around.
What can people expect from the first Tracey night?
First of all, I want people to feel like they have come home.
Even if it’s a new home.
There is a lot happening, and that is deliberate. We want to go off with a bang. But we also want people to feel grounded.
The line-ups are incredible. DJ Petite has curated an amazing music program. Nancy Nutter has assembled a sea of incredible hosts and performers.
“It’s going to be a sensory, delicious night of sexuality, passion, dance and celebration.”
Especially after winter. Especially after everything that happened with Lunchbox Candy.
Tracey’s launch is going to be unforgettable.
Honestly, I will probably have tears streaming down my face all night.
“It’s therapy.”
Should people come for the music, the chaos or the possibility of falling in love at 4am?
“They should come for themselves.”
Whether that is the chaos, the music, falling in love at 4am, getting fucked, losing your mind on the dance floor or simply turning a good look.
Whatever works for you works for Tracey.
