This is the third and final installment of our series on the closing of Chicago's Star Gaze lesbian bar.
Thousands of women have walked through the doors at Star Gaze, each leaving with a unique experience. Many returned often over the years, sharing the common experience of being regulars at what became Chicago's last full-time lesbian bar. The following are some of the memories of a handful of those women who were impacted by owner Mamie Lake and her Andersonville bar.
When asked what brought these women to Star Gaze, they all seem to have different routes for arriving, but similar reasons for staying. Nikki Martin said, "I lived in the neighborhood and heard there was a lesbian bar here. When [ Mamie ] first opened she had Sunday brunch. You could eat on the dance floor [ section ] or in the beer garden." Sylvia B. Stallings, another local resident said, "I've been here since the first day. I used to be around the corner on Balmoral. When I got the postcard in the mail asking if I wanted the bar to open, I said, 'yes, yes, please, please;' and, when she [ Mamie ] got the patio, I said, 'yes, yes, please, please'." Stallings added, "Mamie and [ partner ] Dusty are the salt of the earth. They have taken care of the neighborhood and community since they got here."
Francine Mojica, a bartender from Star Gaze, said, "I used to work for Temps [ Temptations ] … . My friend told me that the people [ Mamie and Dusty ] she was working for were really good people and interested in community." Mojica further explained, "independent artists, whatever, she [ Mamie ] was more interested in helping out the community." Chantelle Yost, who later became a bartender at Star Gaze said, it was "a place to come out and be gay and enjoy and have lots of friends in [ the ] community. I could come in and sit at the bar with people I knew and meet new people in [ the ] community."
"I was livin' in the burbs and comin' here bein' comfortable around family," Pat Krug said. "You can relax, download, do what you gotta do. Your family away from family."
CC Clark, recently voted female athlete of the year for the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association, said, "The first time I was exposed to Star Gaze was from my basketball team. I started playing with The Players before I even knew Star Gaze existed. They were the team that taught me you go to your sponsor bar and you support them." Clark added, "We would have a 10 a.m. game, come here after and stay until night."
When asked about favorite memories, Nikki Martin said, "I spent my entire 30s here. There are so many, so many friends; I first started dating my partner here. Mamie and Dusty have been a huge part of the community and my life for 10 years."
Another regular named Bea said her favorite was "when we dressed up as the YMCA [ Village People ] for a fundraiser, I think for breast cancer. It was a drag show. I was the cowboy, my sister made her own costume, she was the Indian … . " She added, "We got about $7,000 for an anonymous woman who eventually died, but the money went to pay her bills."
Pat Krug described how her weekly routine has been disrupted. She said, "Karaoke, pretty much every Sunday, same girls, same shit, never a dull moment." Krug added, "I think that is going to be the most missed thing around here. At least for me, everyone making an ass of themselves and luvin' it, that's 'Sunday Fun day.'"
From behind the bar, Chantelle Yost said, "My favorite nights were when we did benefits; like when everyone offered to shave their heads, the Hurricane Katrina benefit, [ and for ] a regular, Gillian Barre, to help her [ and others ] financially through hard times." Another long-time bartender, Francine Mojica said, "I don't know if this counts as a favorite, but I met a lot of people and have become friends with them over the years. All 11 years I've been working here have been good memories. Mamie is the best employer I've ever worked for. She really cared about us and sacrificed herself for us … and if you can say you enjoyed your job, that's something."
Finally, when asked to add any final comments, the regulars seemed nostalgic, yet realistic in their musings.
"People have been asking me how I feel about the bar closing," Francine Mojica said. "And, I don't want it to close. … Mamie did a lot for the gay community; she had benefits, and for whatever reasons, they [ lesbians ] stopped coming. I am going to miss this place, the people, but I wouldn't give up my experience." Chantelle Yost said, "I started working here when I had a hard time finding a job in the straight community [ as a bartender ] and Mamie and Dusty took a chance on me when no one else would." When asked where she will go now, she said with a big smile, "Who's hiring? I'm available."
Bea said, "It was fun while it lasted, but like all the lesbian bars, they close. I think something else is going to pop out. I don't think Mamie is done yet. She's down, but she's not out. I think the bar was too big for her. I'm sad that Star Gaze is closing, but that's not devastating." She posited, "If this happened six years ago, I would be more upset, but I'm 43 and I don't go out that much anymore."
A woman in her late 20s named Frankiewho no longer lives in Chicago, but frequented Star Gaze when she visitedsaid, "I love Mamie because she was fair. She was a fuckin' lesbian and all about the lesbian movement. … I remember one year when everyone in the house was sick [ during the annual Capricorn Party ] and the party was canceled so Mamie let us bring the food here." She added, "I feel like this is home and I appreciate it. I don't know anything else as a lesbian but Star Gaze." In addition, Frankie said, "I always tell my friends you got to go to Star Gaze; it's lesbian owned, it's all about the lesbians, it's not a lesbian night."
CC Carter said, "It's just been here so long and has so many memories that go along with it, that it's a weird feeling that it's just not gonna be here. … For me it's an integral part of the neighborhood and when it's not here there will be a void." On the owner, CC added, "I've always felt really great about Mamie because she's the owner and she's always here and involved in the atmosphere of the bar and that makes a difference for someone coming in. It's one thing if there's people who are in a bar to make money, but it makes a difference when the owner is involved and accessible. I suppose it made me feel a part of the bar, like I belong here." Finally, she admitted she's not sure where she'll hang out now. Carter said, " … that's tough. There's not an exclusively lesbian bar. Lost & Found is gone and Girl Bar. This was the last totally dedicated lesbian bar. Other places are totally friendly; great, but this is the one place I thought was all us."
Similarly, Sylvia B. Stallings said, "Mamie was good for a cup of coffee in the old days, and a meal, and she would float us a loan if we were broke." She added, "Every Pride weekend or Pride Day they'd have a Bar-B-Q here and they'd feed the neighborhood, all free. They were the first to offer the space for a benefit for someone without health insurance or a death. There's always been a collection … any time they [ Mamie and Dusty ] could think to extend themselves. There used to be a bus to the [ Lesbian Community Cancer Project ] Gala at South Shore. They brought local comics and music … a lot got their starts here."
Stallings got very solemn and added, "Besides sponsoring sports teams, dart tournaments, drag king shows, this has been my neighborhood bar, not just my lesbian bar. … These people are family. They would invite you in if they knew you were alone at Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter; if you were on your own … they didn't just take your money, they took your welfare into interest."
Pat Krug added a uniquely personal testimony. She said, "I'd have to say the biggest thing for me is that Mamie was lookin' out for every girl around here. Like if you'd had too much to drink or if you needed a job … she opened her heart and she opened her door to ya. I know because I'm actually one of them. I was livin' with a friend, sleepin' on a couch, in between jobs, and Mamie let me work the door here. The best part was she was very supportive; she [ Mamie ] said, 'Keep your head up things will turn around' and they did. She basically looked out for everybody." When asked where she will frequent now, Krug said, "I honestly don't know … this is our safe haven. Somewhere down the line the girls will find another one or open another one." Her thoughts about Mamie were similar to the other regulars, she said, "Mamie is amazing. She loves this community and gave her heart and soul to it. She's a little bit of history."
Finally, Bibi said it most succinctly when she said, "This is the bar that became my 'Cheers'." And like that popular television series, it has left a lasting impact, but is now off the air.
Part one and two of the series at the link: www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php and part two at: http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=24068