Which NYC Gay Bars Will Survive?
James Williams 
I think touristy bars like Stonewall and Flaming Saddles will obviously make it, but I’m not sure places like Boxers, Atlas Social Club or Townhouse will pull through. This feel like the 80-90s AIDS fallout where mostly all the gay bars shuttered, but now on a grander scale.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 83 | May 8, 2020 12:02 AM |
We are on the edge of yet another profound upheaval in gay American history. Coupled with astronomical real estate values, the Coronavirus is moving in for the kill.
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | April 29, 2020 3:01 AM |
Townhouse will survive. It's not that big of a bar, so the maintenance isn't much. And there will always be old men looking for younger men.
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | April 29, 2020 3:14 AM |
Christopher St should survive - if anything does. Not sure of lease or ownership structure - but if they survived this long when so much of Village got priced out, I assume they have some kind of deal. Like Julius, Stonewall, Monster. Maybe Rockbar goes under - seems pretty empty in best of times.
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | April 29, 2020 3:40 AM |
I don’t think bars can reopen successfully if required to enforce social distancing. So the question becomes how long can any of the bars survive being shut down. I may be wrong, but I don’t think it makes much sense to reopen a bar until it’s safe to have normal crowds again. But I’m neither a businessperson nor do I have any work experience in a bar. Do others who know more have opinions on this?
| by Anonymous | reply 4 | April 29, 2020 3:47 AM |
R3 Rockbar is horrible and to have to trek down to the river, how atrocious.
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | April 29, 2020 4:23 AM |
Rockbar is where the old Badlands used to be?
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | April 29, 2020 12:11 PM |
Guys in their 20s and 30s aren't into bar culture. All of the bars mentioned here are for the geriatric crowd who won't be around much longer. It's all about online for the future.
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | April 29, 2020 1:46 PM |
R7- Not true. There were PLENTY of guys in their 20's and 30's going to BOXERS in Chelsea.
| by Anonymous | reply 8 | April 29, 2020 2:12 PM |
[quote] Townhouse will survive. It's not that big of a bar, so the maintenance isn't much. And there will always be old men looking for younger men.
There are no "younger men" at Townhouse. Unless you mean 80 year olds looking for 60 year olds.
| by Anonymous | reply 9 | April 29, 2020 2:34 PM |
Julius' was in trouble before the Corona. Hope it can come back. Best bar ever.
| by Anonymous | reply 11 | April 29, 2020 2:47 PM |
The Townhouse got through the Spanish Flu, it'll make it through this one.
| by Anonymous | reply 12 | April 29, 2020 2:59 PM |
r9, there's plenty of younger men there, especially later in the evening. It's their time of business and they pay a finders fee to the bar.
| by Anonymous | reply 13 | April 29, 2020 3:04 PM |
Yes R6. Julius actually was doing much better business in the last year or two it seems. Always crowded. Not sure if they ave rent control or some sweet deal. It would be a crime if they or Stonewall closed.
I’m confused how bars reopen though. Impossible - and defeats the point - to social distance. Can’t wear a mask while drinking. No outdoor space. But I can’t imagine all the bars in NYC closed for the year. That would kill NYC.
| by Anonymous | reply 14 | April 29, 2020 3:10 PM |
Where are we supposed to go if gay bars are closed?
| by Anonymous | reply 15 | April 29, 2020 3:37 PM |
"there's plenty of younger men there"
Hustlers.
| by Anonymous | reply 16 | April 29, 2020 3:46 PM |
I agree with R3 about Christopher St.
Stonewall is historic (although overrun with kids now).
And my stomping ground Monster: older, wealthier, local customers with a piano bar, disco/gogo boys downstairs and the best frozen margaritas in town🍹
| by Anonymous | reply 17 | April 29, 2020 3:56 PM |
R9, the Townhouse clientele's idea of a late dinner is the Early Bird Special.
| by Anonymous | reply 18 | April 29, 2020 3:59 PM |
OP, Flaming Saddles? If you mean Boots and Saddle, it closed more than a year ago. The Seventh Avenue South location is now "Playhouse," rumored to be where Piece is moving.
| by Anonymous | reply 19 | April 29, 2020 4:03 PM |
The problem is, in New York the property owners benefit from having their spaces vacant. Can't remember exactly but something about the city allowing them to write off the rent on their taxes or some such shit.
| by Anonymous | reply 20 | April 29, 2020 4:04 PM |
r19, Flaming Saddles is on W 53rd & Ninth in Hell’s Kitchen, the neighborhood overrun with whores.
| by Anonymous | reply 21 | April 29, 2020 4:27 PM |
Are the burgers at Julius still good?
| by Anonymous | reply 22 | April 29, 2020 4:35 PM |
R22 yes and Julius has a surge in business last year because the Melissa McCarthy movie ‘Can You Ever Forgive Me?’ was filmed there and featured the location heavily.
| by Anonymous | reply 23 | April 29, 2020 4:39 PM |
Will the eldergays of the future go to bars?
| by Anonymous | reply 24 | April 29, 2020 4:50 PM |
Friends threw parties at Rockbar all the time. Sometimes they were mobbed, sometimes not. I always got laid tho. I miss it.
| by Anonymous | reply 25 | April 29, 2020 4:57 PM |
Monster must ave some kind of rent deal. That is such prime property - but has been there forever. Maybe the most important Village bar- only remaining dance floor, piano bar and margaritas.
Duplex is another prime location that doesn’t make sense. Seems like the building is worth a ton - the must ave a good rent deal or own the building.
| by Anonymous | reply 26 | April 29, 2020 5:40 PM |
[quote]Duplex is another prime location that doesn’t make sense. Seems like the building is worth a ton - the must ave a good rent deal or own the building.
Fun fact: That's where the Village Voice offices used to be.
| by Anonymous | reply 27 | April 29, 2020 5:43 PM |
I think The Works, Uncle Charlie's, Cats and Stella's should be fine. The Rawhide as well.
| by Anonymous | reply 28 | April 29, 2020 5:49 PM |
Maybe the economic crash will finally bring back Stellas and the desperate hustlers of yore. It would almost make this all worthwhile.
| by Anonymous | reply 29 | April 30, 2020 3:49 AM |
Seriously, who goes to gay bars anymore?
| by Anonymous | reply 30 | April 30, 2020 3:58 AM |
They were one of the only things keeping me in NYC. The abundance of options to have a drink with gay men was uniquely NYC. Very few other places let you go gay bar hopping - without driving. Tons of gay bars is a critical element of life in NYC IMHO.
| by Anonymous | reply 31 | April 30, 2020 4:07 AM |
I'd go with friends to hang out. First drink was fine then the cruising and hunting used to start. Then each man was on his own.
Pretty much been to all the gay bars in NYC. R31 I wouldn't know how to be gay without going to the gay bars.
| by Anonymous | reply 32 | April 30, 2020 11:42 AM |
[quote] Maybe the economic crash will finally bring back Stellas and the desperate hustlers of yore.
Yes, but without Stella herself. Loved her bar, but she was something else.
| by Anonymous | reply 33 | April 30, 2020 1:45 PM |
I’ve been to pretty much every gay bar in Manhattan other than Toolbox.
| by Anonymous | reply 34 | April 30, 2020 4:52 PM |
Toolbox had a great active basement. Anyone been there recently?
| by Anonymous | reply 35 | April 30, 2020 5:33 PM |
Are there any hustler bars left in NYC?
| by Anonymous | reply 36 | April 30, 2020 8:14 PM |
No hustler bars. Not even any hustlers. They are all online. Another reason NYC is dying - all the cheap PR street hustlers were replaced by $300/hour porn “stars”/OnlyFans “entrepreneurs” you can order anywhere.
| by Anonymous | reply 37 | April 30, 2020 8:41 PM |
Isn't there always a downmarket? Like the $5 blow of yore.
| by Anonymous | reply 38 | April 30, 2020 9:14 PM |
I went into Rockbar one night and it smelled like feces, literally smelled like shit. Turns out there is a secret scat club that meets there once every few months. It’s a big secret and never publicized and they don’t perform sex acts there, but the aficionados stink even when they’re just meeting for a beer.
| by Anonymous | reply 39 | April 30, 2020 9:20 PM |
[QUOTE] Toolbox had a great active basement. Anyone been there recently?
Basement action was shut down years ago.
| by Anonymous | reply 40 | April 30, 2020 9:21 PM |
I haven’t been to a gay bar in literally years. My friends have just gravitated away from them. There’s no need to find new sex partners or even new friends
| by Anonymous | reply 41 | April 30, 2020 9:25 PM |
I'll stay away from Rockbar then.
| by Anonymous | reply 42 | April 30, 2020 9:27 PM |
I had a friend who went to a secret scat bar. Then he went home in poo-shoes.
| by Anonymous | reply 44 | May 1, 2020 12:00 AM |
I know the Townhouse gets a bad rap at times because of its older clientele but I was in New York on business once and headed over there. I was honestly looking to have a bunch of drinks and relax. I then started talking to Peter and we went back to his place in Gramercy Park. My God, what that man did to me. Not just that night--truly an amazing experience--but for a long time after. I kept trying to replace him or find someone just like him. Handsome, intelligent, and kind. Man oh man.
| by Anonymous | reply 45 | May 1, 2020 12:27 AM |
How much did Peter leave for you on the dresser, r45?
| by Anonymous | reply 46 | May 1, 2020 12:30 AM |
Ha ha ha R46. I was at his place and I would have emptied my wallet had he asked.
| by Anonymous | reply 47 | May 1, 2020 12:37 AM |
Rockbar is NOT a scat bar - never seen a scat night. If the AC is off, maybe bathroom smells. Best thing about it is the outdoor front patio - a fairy in NYC. You can watch the waterfront while drinking a beer out front.
| by Anonymous | reply 49 | May 1, 2020 1:48 AM |
Some bars should bring smoking back. People were much more fun when everyone smoked.
| by Anonymous | reply 50 | May 1, 2020 1:50 AM |
Oh and smoking real cigarettes. Not some dumbass 23yo sucking on a Juul all night until he gets nicotine poisoning.
| by Anonymous | reply 52 | May 1, 2020 1:56 AM |
Bars with outdoor space could survive. Not many in NYC. Texas, FL, CA maybe. Not sure how these places stay alive,
| by Anonymous | reply 53 | May 1, 2020 2:15 AM |
Can the adults please smoke?
| by Anonymous | reply 54 | May 1, 2020 2:30 AM |
R48- NO. It closed in 2017.
| by Anonymous | reply 55 | May 1, 2020 1:37 PM |
How about that Asian bar Star Sapphire in the 50s from long ago. Still open? Hope it is for just having the Mary_est name ever.
| by Anonymous | reply 56 | May 5, 2020 8:25 PM |
I think most of the bathhouses will go out of business.
| by Anonymous | reply 57 | May 5, 2020 8:45 PM |
[quote]Best thing about it is the outdoor front patio - a fairy in NYC. You can watch the waterfront while drinking a beer out front.
Staring at the waterfront through the traffic on the West Side Highway while standing crammed into an iron fence-enclosed "patio" the size of a broom closet, with 20 or so other guys smoking cigarettes in your face - quite a fairy tale!
| by Anonymous | reply 58 | May 5, 2020 8:54 PM |
Bars? How old are you guys? People hook up online or at the gym.
| by Anonymous | reply 59 | May 5, 2020 8:54 PM |
Muriel, get r59 out of here. She's obviously underage and probably has homework to do.
| by Anonymous | reply 60 | May 5, 2020 9:08 PM |
Just need The Ritz to survive!
| by Anonymous | reply 61 | May 5, 2020 9:16 PM |
Though not gay, but very queer friendly, I think House of Yes in BK will survive. They throw the best parties these days.
| by Anonymous | reply 62 | May 5, 2020 9:16 PM |
R60, the fact that you say "she"...Creepy.
| by Anonymous | reply 63 | May 5, 2020 9:17 PM |
Townhouse will survive, as there's mob money involved apparently in ownership. But they're cheap, the speakers for singers at the mic by the piano have been shot, and they haven't replaced for eons, making it hard to hear them (and yes, some of the singers are good).
| by Anonymous | reply 64 | May 5, 2020 9:18 PM |
R61 the rough trade ethnic pickpocket bar?
| by Anonymous | reply 65 | May 5, 2020 9:18 PM |
R64 you apparently haven’t been in awhile. They replaced it with a Bose.
| by Anonymous | reply 66 | May 5, 2020 9:19 PM |
Glad to hear it. Rick Unterberg is one of the best pianists/accompanists in the biz.
| by Anonymous | reply 67 | May 5, 2020 9:22 PM |
R63 I thought about doing a he/she as the minor at r59 could be a little girl. I know it's retro but can we all agree that all gays and lesbians on DL go by the female pronouns?
Its economical and efficient. Half the eldergays do that still, the youngs are gender fluid, retro is chic, and no one outside of here needs to know.
| by Anonymous | reply 68 | May 5, 2020 9:24 PM |
The D.C. Eagle and Secrets, the gay strip bar here in Navy Yard, have both closed permanently within a week of each other.
| by Anonymous | reply 69 | May 5, 2020 9:35 PM |
R67 Rick passed away from COVID19.
| by Anonymous | reply 70 | May 5, 2020 9:42 PM |
A lot of NY gay scene relies on constant tourists to keep it alive. They are going to be hit hard by this.
| by Anonymous | reply 71 | May 5, 2020 9:44 PM |
The Cock r36/r37.
The gogo boys are all hustlers.
| by Anonymous | reply 72 | May 5, 2020 9:45 PM |
R71 that’s true, most weeknights when I’d go out the bar hookups would be visitors.
| by Anonymous | reply 73 | May 5, 2020 9:46 PM |
R70 Really? Oh, that's so sad. Very nice guy with a wicked tongue as well as being a great pianist. May he rest in peace.
| by Anonymous | reply 74 | May 5, 2020 9:47 PM |
Rick was a huge Doris Day fan, and even owned a few of her costumes. I'm sure he's up there accompanying her in one of his medleys of her songs. Gonna cry now.
| by Anonymous | reply 76 | May 5, 2020 9:57 PM |
I worry about my neighborhood HK bar called Ninth Avenue Saloon. Hope it survives.
| by Anonymous | reply 77 | May 5, 2020 9:58 PM |
The gay culture has left NYC. When places like The Big Cup, A Different Light, etc closed that was the warning that the gays had moved on.
| by Anonymous | reply 78 | May 5, 2020 10:03 PM |
Splash will probably close its doors. It's too dangerous having that water spewing everywhere.
| by Anonymous | reply 79 | May 5, 2020 11:32 PM |
Splash closed a couple years ago.
| by Anonymous | reply 80 | May 6, 2020 8:18 PM |
Just heard about Rick from Townhouse. I enjoyed his talent. Sleep well, Sir.
| by Anonymous | reply 82 | May 7, 2020 8:41 PM |
Anyone remember a piano player at the Townhouse named Steven? He was good. He died back in 2013 or thereabouts from a sudden heart attack,
| by Anonymous | reply 83 | May 8, 2020 12:02 AM |
