Gold Coast was a gay leather bar in Chicago that operated from 1958 to 1988.[1] It was one of the first bars created by and for the gay leather community in the United States.[2][3][4]

Gold Coast
General information
Address501 N Clark Street, Chicago, IL
Coordinates41°53′28″N 87°37′51″W / 41.891011°N 87.630811°W / 41.891011; -87.630811
Opened1958
Relocated1984
Closed1988

History

Established in 1958, it was one of the first openly gay bars in the United States.[5] The bar was originally located at 501 N Clark Street adjacent to Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood.[6] It was one of several gay businesses owned and operated by Chuck Renslow.[3] The bar's founding led to the establishment of other gay businesses nearby, creating a kind of "gay district" in the area.[7]

The bar had a "2 am" liquor license which permitted it to serve alcohol but required it to close by 2 am.[8] It was known for its "hardcore" leather culture,[9] and did not pay for a dancing license because the owners felt their clientele would not be interested in dancing.[7] Renslow paid bribes to police to prevent the bar from being raided, although this still occurred occasionally.[8]

Dom Orejudos (widely known by his alias "Etienne"), who was Renslow's partner,[7] created numerous posters and artworks for the Gold Coast.[10] Renslow donated much of this art to the Leather Archives & Museum, some of which is on display in the museum's auditorium.[11][12]

The bar hosted an annual "Mr. Gold Coast" pageant; in 1979, the contest was rebranded as International Mr. Leather, which continues to this day.[1][13]

Patrons at the Gold Coast

In 1984, the bar relocated to 5025 N Clark Street in Andersonville.[14] The bar closed permanently on February 10, 1988, after its liquor license was revoked. Prior to this, it had declined in popularity due in part to the relocation and to changes in management.[7][14]

On May 25, 2018, the Chicago City Council voted to designate the eastern stretch of Clark Street between Winnemac Ave and Ainslie Ave—the historic location of the Gold Coast, Man's Country, and other businesses owned by Renslow—as "CHUCK RENSLOW WAY."[15][16]

References

  1. 1 2 "Legendary Chicago businessman, activist Chuck Renslow dies - Windy City Times News". Windy City Times. 2017-06-29. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  2. ↑ "Remembering Chicago Leatherman Chuck Renslow". WBEZ Chicago. 2017-06-30. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  3. 1 2 Goldsborough, Bob (2017-06-30). "Chuck Renslow, Chicago gay community icon and International Mr. Leather contest founder, dies at 87". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  4. ↑ "A Conversation About Chicago's Boystown". WBEZ Chicago. 2017-06-18. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  5. ↑ Bergquist, Kathie; McDonald, Robert (2006). A Field Guide to Gay & Lesbian Chicago. Lake Claremont Press. p. 7. ISBN 978-1-893121-03-4.
  6. ↑ "Our History". Man's Country Chicago. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Baim, Tracy; Keehnen, Owen (2011). Leatherman: The Legend of Chuck Renslow. Obama and the Gays. pp. 128–130. ISBN 978-1-4610-9602-3.
  8. 1 2 Stewart-Winter, Timothy (2016-02-16). Queer Clout: Chicago and the Rise of Gay Politics. University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 24. ISBN 978-0-8122-4791-6.
  9. ↑ Wagner, R. Richard (2020-05-22). Coming Out, Moving Forward: Wisconsin's Recent Gay History. Wisconsin Historical Society. p. 93. ISBN 978-0-87020-928-4.
  10. ↑ Lock, Jack. "Dom Orejudos aka "Etienne"". Visual AIDS. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  11. ↑ "The Etienne Auditorium". Leather Archives & Museum. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  12. ↑ Keehnen, Owen (2016-05-25). "Leather Archives & Museum turns 25". Windy City Times. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  13. ↑ "Chuck Renslow". Chicago Gay History. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  14. 1 2 de la Croix, Sukie (2000-09-27). "Gary Chichester: A Remarkable Life". Windy City Times. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  15. ↑ "Record No. O2018-3236". City of Chicago, Office of the City Clerk. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Chuck Renslow street dedication May 19 - Windy City Times News". Windy City Times. 2018-05-07. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
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