The 19 Bar

Last updated

The 19 Bar
The 19 Bar reopening.jpg
The 19 Bar
Restaurant information
Establishedc. 1952
Street address19 W 15th Street
CityMinneapolis
StateMinnesota
Coordinates 44°58′04″N93°16′43″W / 44.96778°N 93.27861°W / 44.96778; -93.27861

The 19 Bar is a gay bar located at 19 W 15th Street in the Loring Park neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota. [1] Founded in 1952, it is the oldest gay bar in Minneapolis and among the oldest in the United States. [2] The establishment is as a cash-only dive bar that offers a classic jukebox, pool tables and dart boards. [3] In 2012, the Minnesota Star Tribune named it the best "old-school gay bar" in their Best of Minnesota series. [4]

History

In 1922, architectural firm Magney and Tusler, best known for their work on the Foshay Tower, developed 19 W 15th Street as a laundry service. [5] It was converted to the 19 Bar by Harry S. Kirshbaum, who sold the bar in 1952 to life partners Everett Stoltz and George Koch. [6] The bar has been LGBTQ-owned since that time. [7]

Initially, The 19 Bar was a "3.2 bar" with a license to serve 3.2-ABV alcohol and below. [6] This license this allowed it to stay open later than other bars, which were required to close at midnight on Sundays, causing large rushes on Sunday nights. This pattern persisted until their license changed in the 1990s. [2]

In February, 1961, The 19 was robbed as part of a shooting spree by "Mad Dog Killers" Charles Brown and Charles Kelley, who went on to become the last people executed in Iowa. [5] Alongside other 3.2 bars in Loring Park, The 19 was closed by law enforcement in 1963 under complaints that it drew local drunks to the area. During its closure, the Minneapolis Police Department's license inspector called it a "hangout for homosexuals" [8]

By the early 1980s, it had solidified its reputation as a neighborhood establishment and a popular Sunday-night alternative to larger spaces such as Gay 90s and The Saloon. [9] In 1980, the Loring Nicollet Community Council (LNCC) sought to demolish the bar in favor of a shopping mall. [10] When criticized by gay activist Robert Halfhill, alderwoman Barbara Carlson denied the existence of such a plan while describing complaints bout the bar's late hours and demolition did not proceed. It was remodeled in 1983 by then-owner Ray Onstine, who relocated the entrance to the north wall. [6] Later that decade, in 1986, the bar was briefly closed after targeted arson and vandalism. [5] Gary Hallberg bought the business in 1992 and the building a few years later before expanding the space; he owned the establishment for over 30 years. [6]

On March 22, 2024, the bar caught fire and was forced to close after a garbage truck collided with a nearby utility pole. [11] [12] Owner Gary Hallberg sued the trash company for $2.8 million, citing a potential sale that was cancelled due to the fire. [13] In February 2025, just under a year later, the establishment reopened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. [14] Soon after, bar ownership was transferred to manager Craig Wilson. [3] [7]

References

  1. ↑ Chanen, David (January 24, 2007). "Tests show cab driver, victim were impaired by alcohol". Minnesota Star Tribune . Retrieved 10 July 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 Rietmulder, Michael (June 29, 2013). "Bars: 19 Bar in Minneapolis has been gay bar for six decades". Minnesota Star Tribune . Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  3. 1 2 Keefer, Winter (June 27, 2025). "A rainbow phoenix risen from the ashes: The historic 19 Bar is back for Twin Cities Pride". MinnPost. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  4. ↑ "Old School: 19 bar". Minnesota Star Tribune. May 26, 2012. p. TB31. Retrieved 10 July 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 3 Van Cleve, Stewart (September 21, 2012). "Nineteen Lives and Counting: The 19 Bar, Minneapolis (since 1956)". Land of 10,000 Loves: A History of Queer Minnesota. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press. pp. 124–126. ISBN   9780816676453 . Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Holdgrafer, George (May 3, 2012). "A Bar Fit for a Queen". Lavender Magazine. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  7. 1 2 Cooper, Renee (November 24, 2024). "'We're not going anywhere': Minneapolis's historic 19 Bar to reopen soon, manager says". KSTP. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  8. ↑ Premack, Frank (April 11, 1963). "Three Upper Nicollet Taverns Stay Closed". Minneapolis Tribune. p. 41. Retrieved 10 July 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Avenue is center of gay nightlife". Minneapolis Star. June 26, 1981. p. 36. Retrieved 10 July 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Lindeke, Bill (April 14, 2024). "The 19 Bar was a thriving remnant of a fast-changing Minneapolis neighborhood. Will it survive?". MinnPost. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  11. ↑ Nace, Aki (March 25, 2024). "Minneapolis' 19 Bar, one of the oldest gay bars in the country, closed due to fire". WCCO-TV . Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  12. ↑ Timar-Wilcox, Estelle (March 26, 2024). "19 Bar, a Minneapolis gay bar open since the 1950s, closes after crash sparks fire". Minnesota Public Radio . Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  13. ↑ Nace, Aki (August 30, 2024). "Owner of 19 Bar, oldest LGBTQ bar in Minnesota, files lawsuit against trash company after devastating fire". WCCO-TV . Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  14. ↑ Ki, Nicole (February 27, 2025). "'Come back strong': 19 Bar reopens in Minneapolis nearly a year after major fire". Minnesota Public Radio . Retrieved July 10, 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.