Gentry of Chicago

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/2/08 at 3:01pm

What happened??? Both locations (State Street and Halsted) have closed!! The website simply says they no longer exist.

I'm so bummed. The open mic nights were an absolute treasure. Every time I went to either location, they seemed to be pretty full, so I'm a bit shocked.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/2/08 at 3:38pm

So sad. Times have been very hard on Gay bars in Chicago. Halsted rents have been going up up up and business hasn't been booming. I feel bad for all those performers who no longer have a place to play.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/2/08 at 5:20pm

I can understand one closing due to declining business or rent hikes, but both at once??? Either there was something really wrong going on or they have been in over their heads for a really long time. The original Gentry just celebrated its 25th anniversary. It was the first gay bar I visited in Chicago back in 1996.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/2/08 at 5:32pm

They'll have to pry my cold, dead, um, you know out of the Bijou Theater if they ever close that place.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/2/08 at 5:35pm

Funny...I always pictured you as a Manhandler kind of guy.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/2/08 at 5:51pm

Yes. At the Bijou Theater.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/2/08 at 5:59pm

Cue rimshot!

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 12/2/08 at 6:14pm

What?!

I LOVED that bar!

So sad.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/2/08 at 6:14pm

Only if I have Saran Wrap. Very sensitive stomach.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 12/2/08 at 6:17pm

You have someone who can reach your stomach from down there?!

[Elphaba]

Posted: 12/2/08 at 10:32pm

the best bar there EVER was Deeks.......sigh

[WindyCityActor]

Posted: 12/2/08 at 11:00pm

Loved Deeks!!!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/3/08 at 10:14am

Put me down for Bistro 2! On Halsted it would be the late lamented Christopher Street.

Nothing more tired than old queens whining about the bars they miss!

[WindyCityActor]

Posted: 12/3/08 at 11:06am

OK....well....I really miss those few glorious months when the AA Meat Market was just a couple of blocks from the old Touche' location...which was right across the street from Malehide Leather.

[Jon]

Posted: 12/3/08 at 11:45am

You youngsters... I remember the 1970's when the gay bar area was Hubbard Street - Dugan's Bistro, The Gold Coast, etc.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 12/3/08 at 4:23pm

Winday, Deeks opened after I moved to Detroit, which is a good thing as I lived a block from the drag bar hat became Deek's....and had Paul opened Deek's while I was still there, I would have lived there.