Gay bar west palm beach

The fire that gutted Roosters, which began with oily rags that had been used to sand benches, was an exclamation point of pain in a city whose businesses were reeling during the coronavirus pandemic.

Florida's oldest gay bar reopens in West Palm Beach, 5 years after it burned down

Roosters, like other restaurants and bars, had closed in March of as coronavirus cases exploded in Palm Beach County and across the country. But rather than stop paying its eight employees, the bar's owners opted to stop paying property insurance premiums instead. It was a fateful decision. Two months after the bar was closed, it was gutted by fire.

Fire crews saved the shell of the building, but a cherished place of belonging and fun for the LGBTQ community was gone. Randy Christiansen, a business partner of the bar's owner, A. Wasson, told commissioners Wednesday that Wasson was west determined to rebuild. It belongs to the community. We have to rebuild it. Their beach on Wednesday was unanimous.

Added Commissioner Christy Fox: "I'm glad we're able to help. I'm looking forward to the ribbon-cutting. Johnson said that could take place late this year when the building gay expected to re-open. Roosters was put on the city's register of historic places inthought then to be only the third LGBTQ bar in the country honored with that designation with the others being the Atlanta Eagle in Georgia and the Stonewall Inn in New York, site of the riots in that were a major flashpoint in the push for LGBTQ rights and acceptance.

The bar has also helped raise awareness and money in the battle against AIDS and cancer. The facility and the owners have established themselves as being leaders in terms of different philanthropic efforts whether it relates to help with the AIDS pandemic or breast cancer awareness and a number of charity-type initiatives that have been supported by the owners.

Former City Commission member Kelly Shoaf, working with the group rebuilding Roosters, applied for the grant on behalf of the bar. Johnson said the city's grant money will be used to pay for HVAC replacement, exterior awnings, door and window replacement and bar equipment. The re-opened Roosters will have a kitchen, enabling it to hire 10 new employees in addition to the eight the bar had when it closed, Johnson said.

Commissioner Shalonda Warren said she, too, was excited about the palm of the bar's reopening. She pressed Johnson and Christiansen on whether the new hires would be local. Christiansen said the bar has always hired locally and expected to continue that policy. Bar city's grant requires that it remain open for at least five years in its current location.

Commissioner Joseph Peduzzi said he has little doubt that Roosters will meet that expectation. But he said he wanted another commitment: that the bar owners maintain their property insurance. You can reach him at wwashington pbpost. Help support our work; subscribe today.

Wayne Washington Palm Beach Post.