As the gay community mourns the loss of 19 Bar, the Walker Art Center is hosting a celebration of its past
MINNEAPOLIS— An anchor of the gay community and Minneapolis' Loring Park neighborhood is receiving widespread support after a devastating fire. The historic 19 Bar in Minneapolis' Loring Park neighborhood was destroyed by a fire a week ago after a garbage truck hit a utility pole and caused flames, leaving the building severely damaged. The loss of 19 Bar, an anchor of the gay community and a significant part of the community, led to a celebration at the Walker Art Center in celebration of its past. The bar opened in the 1950s and was the oldest gay bar in the state, if not the region. Eight of the staff, eight of whom are now out of a job due to the loss, and the queer community is left without a Lored Park beacon. Two online fundraisers have raised almost $30,000 to help unemployed staff make ends meet.
Published : 4 weeks ago by The Bharat Express News in
MINNEAPOLIS— An anchor of the gay community and Minneapolis’ Loring Park neighborhood is receiving widespread support after a devastating fire.
Almost a week ago, 19 Bar was severely damaged after a garbage truck hit a utility pole, landing on the building and causing flames.
Fortunately, no one was injured, but the loss hits the LGBTQ community hard.
There are many ways people honor the memory as they look to the future.
Decades of history that would go up in smoke. Surveillance video captured the moment a garbage truck ignited the flames that destroyed the historic 19 Bar.
“It’s just so weird not to go to that place on the way home from work,” Bubba Thurn said.
Thurn is a regular customer, neighbor and good friend of the staff – eight of whom are out of a job, while the queer community is now without a Loring Park beacon.
The long-standing 19 Bar opened in the 1950s – the oldest gay bar in the state, if not the region.
“You always expect it to be there,” Thurn said. “If you come to the Pride festival Every year you expect to at least run into your friends when you move away from Bar 19.”
Sharing that grief was difficult, especially when their favorite gathering place is the place that was lost.
But just down the street at the Walker Art Center, a colorful opportunity awaits.
“We just started brainstorming about what we can do,” said Rachel Joyce with the Walker. “And that’s how we came up with the idea of celebrating the 19th tonight.”
Coincidentally, there is an exhibit at the Walker that pays tribute to the New Eagle Creek Saloon, San Francisco’s first black-owned gay bar.
Events are held weekly. And the artist, Sadie Barnette, was more than happy to welcome people into the space in honor of 19 Bar.
Photos submitted by customers are projected onto the wall, while bartenders and a DJ set the atmosphere that people are missing right now.
“I really hope it’s a joyful moment to reminisce about good times on the 19 and a way to look to the future,” Joyce said.
“I will be there and of course the 19 employees, they will be there,” Thurn said. “It will also be nice to connect with a lot of people again.”
In the meantime, two online fundraisers have raised a total of almost $30,000, helping unemployed staff make ends meet.
“I am very proud of the queer and Loring Park community,” Thurn said.
The 19 Bar party at the Walker Art Center starts Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Participation is free and open to all ages, but you must be 21 or older to drink.
Topics: LGBTQ