Though Rise's owners invested in soundproofing before it opened, noise concerns from nearby residents initially led the local community board and state liquor authority to require the venue to close at an earlier hour than its competitors.

[1] The interior, described by Gothamist as "sleek" and "open",[2] has a white bar, black tables, a glitter ball, a stage and television screens playing music videos.

[6] In September 2019, Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and his husband, Gauthier Destenay, visited Rise to attend a drag performance by Marti Gould Cummings.

He argued that the bar was unable to compete with other LGBTQ venues nearby—including Industry, Therapy, Fairytail Lounge and Hardware—because they were all allowed to operate until 4 a.m.[8] He presented letters of support from more than 800[10] people—including 21 living above the bar—and from Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, Councilman Corey Johnson and Senator Brad Hoylman.

[11] Others said that when the owners first applied for the establishment's liquor license, they had misrepresented it as a lounge without live entertainment, and its drag shows and karaoke nights meant that it was, in practice, operating as a nightclub.

[11] However, no "specific problematic instances", such as noise violations or incidents of unruly behavior, were submitted to the board's Business Licenses and Permits committee, which issued preliminary approval to Blair's application.

[10] The bar then applied to change its liquor license to include a provision for live piano music, which again provoked opposition from neighbors who felt the owners had not been upfront about their intentions for the space.

The Business Licenses and Permits committee ultimately approved the proposal, "provided the bar wrap up any and all live performances before 1 a.m. and conduct sound tests in the apartments of residents with complaints".

[1] During the bar's application process for later operating hours, patrons who attended board meetings commented that Rise was a comfortable place that "fostered a sense of community".