Pictured Mayor Richard Daley inducted Buddies' into the city's Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame last fall. The bar's owners are pictured: Martin Enright (center) and George Brophy. Photo by Tracy Baim
Buddies' Restaurant and Bar has served the Chicago GLBT community for more than 16 years. On April 1, the bar was suddenly closed down after the owners sold their building at 3301 N. Clark.
Owners George Brophy and Martin Enright have been pursued by developers for some time. This time, the offer was just too good to refuse.
With the closing of yet another longtime gay establishment, Lakeview continues a long slide toward gentrification, as a core of the gay community continues to be priced out and pushed north. This is part of a decades-long trend, as the gay business community was once based in the Gold Coast, then Old Town, and then continued its move north.
The Lakeview area, also known as Boys Town, has resisted change longer than previous neighborhoods in part because many of the gay businesses there actually own their properties. But that was also the case for Buddies'—Brophy and Enright owned the building the bar and restaurant operated within.
The sudden shuttering of the gay bar left management and staff in shock. Brophy explained that he and Enright were under a gag order not to discuss the plans with anyone until the sale went through.
'It's been a great, a really super run,' Brophy said. 'The customers have been very good and loyal to us. Marty is 73, and we both have been working very hard and long. He's old and I'm tired, and with that combination ... the offer was just too good to pass up.'
Brophy said this presents an opportunity for the long-time couple to move on. They have been together since 1977, and they will take the time now to decide the next phase of their lives—whether in Chicago or out of state. He said he would love to work with many of his loyal employees again some time.
'I will be spending a lot of time on the road—I have a horse. I am going to spend four days with the original guy known as the Horse Whisperer,' Brophy said.
Even longtime bar manager Michael Shimandle was not told until the bar closed. 'The employees for the most part have been super,' Brophy said. 'My feeling is that I was generous to the people who deserved it, the long-time employees. Even our payroll company said it was somewhat unprecedented, for small companies, to do what we did. I felt it was important to be loyal to employees who have been loyal to us.'
Buddies' was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame last fall. Not just any gay bar, they have been integral sponsors of community non-profits and sports teams. Dozens of organizations benefitted from the bar's generosity, whether it was holding a benefit night or giving donations or food or advertising.
Brophy worked at gay bars prior to Buddies', including Bushes, Bughaus and Bulldog
