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. Roosters, like other restaurants and bars, had closed in March of as coronavirus cases exploded in Palm Beach County and across the country.

West Palm Beach will contribute $166,000 to rebuild of iconic LGBTQ bar Roosters

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 Gay was always determined to rebuild. It belongs to the community. We have to rebuild it. Their vote 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 is 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 west or breast cancer awareness and a number of charity-type initiatives that have been supported by the owners.

Former City Bar member Kelly Shoaf, working with the group rebuilding Roosters, applied for the grant on behalf of the bar. Johnson said the city's beach 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 prospect 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. The 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 palm. You can reach him at wwashington pbpost. Help support our work; subscribe today.