Remembering Tampa Bay's classic gay bars that no longer exist

2606

A bit scary in look and reputation, 2606 was less intimidating inside. The spot at 2606 N. Armenia Ave. in Tampa had a leather shop on the second floor, and dark niches here and there, but the overall vibe was comfortable and welcoming no matter what you wore.

Bedrox

Located on the beach at 8000 W Gulf Blvd. in Treasure Island, the service was great at Bedrox where no shirt and no shoes were no problem. The spot, a former Penguin Club that looked like an igloo, was hard to miss, too, since some people thought it looked like a set for “The Flintstones.” Owners filed for bankruptcy in 1996, and Bed Rox closed in 1997. The Sunset Beach Pavilion stands there now.

Chelsea

Formerly Azalea (with a crew that once arrived at the Loafies in a fire truck), the Chelsea was similarly convivial and complimented for its “long stone bar, wooden tables, comfy, closed-in patio and attentive, friendly barkeep.” Advertising promised strippers, drag shows, a Latino night—and karaoke.

Club Chambers

For a while, Club Chambers—or just Chambers for those who frequented it often—was a massive, sprawling, two-story dance club and bar located at 1701 N. Franklin St. on the edge of downtown Tampa (where Hall On Franklin and Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s last office were). With over 16,000 square feet of available space, the club was by far one of the largest and most accommodating gay bars in Tampa’s history. Whether hosting its regular drag shows, or pumping high energy, non-stop dance music on its enormous dance floor, the club always seemed welcoming to and accepting of patrons of all ages and backgrounds, making it the perfect place to have a good time. While more often than not, gay bars tend to cater to either the very young or those more advanced in age, Chambers was unique in that it hosted and entertained a vast and varied crowd that crossed several generational lines with the mission of ensuring everyone was having a good time. The bars and bartenders were accessible and easy to reach, and the layout provided plenty of space to mingle, talk with friends,and, of course, dance the night away.—Gabe Echazabal

The Flamingo Resort

Iconic in St. Pete, The Flamingo closed in 2019 after 10 years serving a community that loved the Suncoast Resort, which closed in 2007. Unlike gay bars of the ‘70s, neighbors embraced The Flamingo and credited it with freshening up the neighborhood. Drag and Sunday tea dances were beloved by patrons, but an apartment complex eventually went up at 4601 34th St. S.

Georgie’s Alibi

El Goya may have shifted the center of Tampa Bay’s gay universe to Ybor City, but Georgie’s, located at 3100 3rd Ave. N in St. Petersburg, was it its heart. There were few bars anywhere that managed to juggle so many balls at once so successfully: good food and strong drinks, amiable staff, stellar DJs, live performances and an eclectic clientele with something (or someone) for everybody—gay, straight, male, female, hot, not.

El Goya

The Hotel Haya marquee on the corner of 7th Avenue and 15th Street in Ybor City is a reminder of the nightclub giant that once dominated Florida’s LGBTQ+ dance scene. A 1976 ad for the space advertised “an experience in illusion” and “Florida’s largest female impersonation revue,” plus 25-cent well drinks on Tuesdays and Sundays. Other newspaper clippings show how hard it was for the the LGBTQ+ community; Tampa Times (later known as the Tampa Tribune) in 1976 quoted someone at a HCC community meeting saying, “We don’t want any queers down here, is what it boils down to.”) But Historian Andy Huse told WTSP that gay bars like El Goya helped revitalize the historic district. At one point, the bar was part of the El Goya Mall complete with multiple lounges. It was so popular that straight people patronized it, making it one of the safest places for gay people to visit without fear of being outed. The space eventually became Tracks—where people lined up around the block to take part in different dance nights and the infamous Cactus Juice shots—and then Pleasure Dome and Czar.

Honey Pot

Formerly Twilight, Honey Pot lived at a prime address on Ybor City’s Seventh Avenue strip and devoted about 75% of its square-footage to the dance floor. When the early days of the pandemic 86’d gathering in clubs, the writing was on the wall. In December 2020, Honey Pot said goodbye, and while its successor, PTL, brought a similar energy to the space, it, too, closed early this year.

KiKiKi III

A classic dive bar indistinguishable from its straight counterparts except for the clientele, which included “its share of regulars looking for generous friends,” as tampa.gaycities.com so delicately puts it. The bar at 1908 W Kennedy Blvd. in Tampa also had Natty Lite on tap.

The Knotty Pine

Known as Tampa’s first gay bay, The Knotty Pine opened in the '40s at 723 Morgan St. in downtown. The corner is now nondescript save for the Robert L. Timberlake, Jr. Federal Building, named for a police officer killed by his own weapon. Locals say that when officers would enter the Knotty Pine, dancing would switch from same-sex to opposite-sex partners. Old photos depict a checkerboard floor around the bar, lots of socializing, and even drag as it was in the 1950s. It eventually became the first Kikiki bar.

The Lady's Room

Largo’s The Lady's Room was arguably the only dedicated lesbian bar in Florida. Founded by Vicky Gibson, who escaped harassment and came of age at gay bars with pina coladas in hand, the bar lived in a strip mall and sported “70s and ‘80s aesthetics, a proper dance floor, a proper stage, plus good food and good drinks,” plus drag shows, open mics, karaoke and more. “It’s a safe place to go with the ones you love,” Gibson told CL in 2023. “A place to go and escape for a while.” Despite the best efforts of a crowdfunding campaign, the bar off Ulmerton Road didn’t make it to 2024.

Play

FKA Spurs Country Bar, with two stages, Play was meant to be a cornerstone for live music (now, Crowbar across the street from 1701 E 8th Ave. in Ybor City does the trick).

Punky’s

The melting pot of people and their pets enjoyed seven years of drag bingo and community in St. Pete’s Grand Central District before closing in 2022. Punky’s filled the gap that Georgie’s left when the popular gay bar and club closed that same year. Known for its events, cheap drinks, a large outdoor patio, and welcoming atmosphere for all walks of life. The Central Avenue-facing restaurant offered a no-nonsense menu of burgers, wings, flatbreads, salads and sandwiches, in addition to a wide variety of beer, wine and signature cocktails. The spot at 3100 3rd Ave. S is now a pour-your-own-wine-and-beer bar, The Study.

Rene’s Club Cabaret

Under the guidance of five-foot two-inch tall Rene Rodrigues, this cabaret at 2605 W Kennedy Blvd. in Tampa was a haven for drag, and the ire of homophobes. “Every time [you] left the bar, the police would pull you over. That was a very heavy presence, intimidation. They would do that outside Rene’s [Lounge],” Tampa Pride organizer Carrie West told CL in 2021. “So we left Rene’s, and cops pull you over, ‘That bar you just left, you know what kind of bar that was? That’s a homosexual bar. Did you know that, sir?’ Because remember, you got caught or anything like that, they could put your name in the paper and list your job too.”

Streetcar Charlie’s

The gay-centric (but not gay-exclusive) restaurant managed to combine white-tablecloth service and good food with a neighborhood-hangout vibe. Plus, the windows at 1811 N. 15th St (now Barterhouse) offer a great view of the passing (and/or cruising) throngs. And don’t forget the cheap wings.

Valentine’s Nightclub & Showbar

Known for its five-nights-a-week drag shows, Valentine’s at 7522 N. Armenia Ave. was especially popular for its Latino night.

Ybor Eagle/ Ybor City Social Club

The former home of Flirt is now The Catacombs and SpookyEasy Lounge. Ybor Social Club was upstairs and the Eagle below. The space at 1909 N. 15th St. was part of the mini-empire of D. Stephen Moss who also owned Honey Pot and G. Bar (the latter is now Southern Nights). Hunky dancers, all-’80s after-work parties and College Nights with $1 shots were part of the aesthetic along with. Downstairs’ Bear Hunt Fridays and a strictly enforced leather dress code on Saturdays; Sundays was Underwear Night (no jock string or thongs).