Photo #2 The Village People perform at Bistro II in 1988. Photo by M. J. Murphy.
Photo #3 Buck and Jeff at Chritopher street 1987. Photo by MJ Murphy.
Photo #4 Chuck Renslow at his White Party 1987 at Bistro II.
Photo #5 The short lived women’s bar Suzi B’s, now home to Scot’s
Bars were especially a critical part of the gay scene in the 1980s, when there were few other places gays and lesbians could be ‘out’.
Here’s a look at what’s happened to some nightspots that existed 20 years ago:
– 131 Club (13126 S. Western): Now The Edge
– Artful Dodger (1734 W. Wabansia): After being in business 21 years, it closed on July 16, 2005
– Augie & CK’s (3726 N. Broadway): It’s now Charlie’s
– Baton (436 N. Clark): It celebrated its 36th Anniversary on March 18, 2005
– Berlin (954 W. Belmont): This dance club is definitely still there
– Big Red’s (3729 N. Halsted): Now Bobby Love’s
– Buck’s Saloon (3439 N. Halsted): Still thriving
– Bushes (3320 N. Halsted): It’s now Gentry on Halsted.
– Christopher Street (3458 N. Halsted): Hydrate now calls this home
– Closet (3325 N. Broadway): Still operating
– Club Victoria (3153 N. Broadway): A Universal Gear store
– Dan’s on Clark/Pelican (6341 N. Clark): Now County Pub
– Gentry (712 N. Rush): There are now two—at 440 N. State and 3320 N. Halsted
– Gold Coast (5025 N. Clark): Now T’s bar, with Chicago Eagle and Man’s Country down the block
– His ‘N Hers (944 W. Addison): Owner Marge Summit was forced to move her club due to CTA train station expansion by Wrigley Field; it moved to North Broadway and later closed. The bar was popular with singers new to the scene.
– Hunter’s (1932 E. Higgins, Elk Grove Village): It’s still operating.
– Irene’s Diamonds (3169 N. Halsted): Now The Lucky Horseshoe Lounge
– Jeffrey Pub (7041 S. Jeffrey): Still in business
– JJ’s (6406 N. Clark): Now Jackhammer
– Kitty’s Korner (2959 W. Irving Park): Now a Bank One
– Ladybug (3445 N. Halsted): First and only lesbian bar on Halsted, closed
– Legacy (3042 W. Irving): Recently closed
– Little Jim’s (3501 N. Halsted): Still running
– Loading Dock (3702 N. Halsted): Now Cell Block
– Lost & Found (3058 W. irving): Still running strong as oldest women’s bar in city
– Maneuvers (118 E. jefferson in Joliet): Still in business
– Manhandler (1948 N. Halsted): Still running; after owner Jerry Armstrong’s passing, sister now runs it
– Man’s Country (5015 N. Clark): Still running
– Man’s World (4740 N. Western): Now at 4862 N. Clark
– Medusa’s Music Hall (3257 N. Sheffield): Office building
– Men’s Room (3359 N. Halsted): Now Cocktail
– New Flight (420 N. Clark): Now The Boss Bar
– North End (3733 N. Halsted): Still in business
– Nutbush (301 N. Harlem, Forest Park): Now 7201 Franklin in Forest Park
– Oasis (111 W. Hubbard): Home to the club Minx
– Opal Station (6655 N. Clark): Residential building
– Paris Dance (1122 W. Montrose): Now a condo development
– Patch (201 155th, Calumet City): Still running as oldest women’s bar in region
– Pepper’s (1502 W. Jarvis): Became Charmers, which closed earlier this year
– Piggen’s Pub (674 W. Diversey): Now commercial retail space
– Pour House (103 155th, Calumet City): Still running after 32 years
– Sam’s (2540 N. Clark): Now Oodles of Noodles
– Second Story Bar (157 E. Ohio): Still in operation
– Sidetrack (3349 N. Halsted): Still thriving
– Smart Bar (3730 N. Clark): Still in existence
– Swan Club (3720 N. Clark): Now a restaurant
– Touché (2825 N. Lincoln): Burned down in ’89; now at 6412 N. Clark; old locale now home to – – Nana’s Bristol & Lounge
– Trianon (3150 N. Halsted): Retail space now
– Tropic Zone (5220 N. Sheridan): Now Acupuncture and Herb Healing
– Twenty-One Club (3042 W. Irving Park): Became Legacy 21, which closed two years ago
– Waterworks (933 N. State): Now a Walgreens