Photo #1 Limelight bar, mid 1980s. Photo by Steve Arazmuz
Photo #2 The Village People perform at Bistro II in 1988. Photo by M. J. Murphy.
Photo #3 Buck and Jeff at Chritopher street 1987. Photo by MJ Murphy.
Photo #4 Chuck Renslow at his White Party 1987 at Bistro II.
Photo #5 The short lived women's bar Suzi B's, now home to Scot's
Bars were especially a critical part of the gay scene in the 1980s, when there were few other places gays and lesbians could be 'out'.
Here's a look at what's happened to some nightspots that existed 20 years ago:
– 131 Club ( 13126 S. Western ) : Now The Edge
– Artful Dodger ( 1734 W. Wabansia ) : After being in business 21 years, it closed on July 16, 2005
– Augie & CK's ( 3726 N. Broadway ) : It's now Charlie's
– Baton ( 436 N. Clark ) : It celebrated its 36th Anniversary on March 18, 2005
– Berlin ( 954 W. Belmont ) : This dance club is definitely still there
– Big Red's ( 3729 N. Halsted ) : Now Bobby Love's
– Buck's Saloon ( 3439 N. Halsted ) : Still thriving
– Bushes ( 3320 N. Halsted ) : It's now Gentry on Halsted.
– Christopher Street ( 3458 N. Halsted ) : Hydrate now calls this home
– Closet ( 3325 N. Broadway ) : Still operating
– Club Victoria ( 3153 N. Broadway ) : A Universal Gear store
– Dan's on Clark/Pelican ( 6341 N. Clark ) : Now County Pub
– Gentry ( 712 N. Rush ) : There are now two—at 440 N. State and 3320 N. Halsted
– Gold Coast ( 5025 N. Clark ) : Now T's bar, with Chicago Eagle and Man's Country down the block
– His 'N Hers ( 944 W. Addison ) : Owner Marge Summit was forced to move her club due to CTA train station expansion by Wrigley Field; it moved to North Broadway and later closed. The bar was popular with singers new to the scene.
– Hunter's ( 1932 E. Higgins, Elk Grove Village ) : It's still operating.
– Irene's Diamonds ( 3169 N. Halsted ) : Now The Lucky Horseshoe Lounge
– Jeffrey Pub ( 7041 S. Jeffrey ) : Still in business
– JJ's ( 6406 N. Clark ) : Now Jackhammer
– Kitty's Korner ( 2959 W. Irving Park ) : Now a Bank One
– Ladybug ( 3445 N. Halsted ) : First and only lesbian bar on Halsted, closed
– Legacy ( 3042 W. Irving ) : Recently closed
– Little Jim's ( 3501 N. Halsted ) : Still running
– Loading Dock ( 3702 N. Halsted ) : Now Cell Block
– Lost & Found ( 3058 W. irving ) : Still running strong as oldest women's bar in city
– Maneuvers ( 118 E. jefferson in Joliet ) : Still in business
– Manhandler ( 1948 N. Halsted ) : Still running; after owner Jerry Armstrong's passing, sister now runs it
– Man's Country ( 5015 N. Clark ) : Still running
– Man's World ( 4740 N. Western ) : Now at 4862 N. Clark
– Medusa's Music Hall ( 3257 N. Sheffield ) : Office building
– Men's Room ( 3359 N. Halsted ) : Now Cocktail
– New Flight ( 420 N. Clark ) : Now The Boss Bar
– North End ( 3733 N. Halsted ) : Still in business
– Nutbush ( 301 N. Harlem, Forest Park ) : Now 7201 Franklin in Forest Park
– Oasis ( 111 W. Hubbard ) : Home to the club Minx
– Opal Station ( 6655 N. Clark ) : Residential building
– Paris Dance ( 1122 W. Montrose ) : Now a condo development
– Patch ( 201 155th, Calumet City ) : Still running as oldest women's bar in region
– Pepper's ( 1502 W. Jarvis ) : Became Charmers, which closed earlier this year
– Piggen's Pub ( 674 W. Diversey ) : Now commercial retail space
– Pour House ( 103 155th, Calumet City ) : Still running after 32 years
– Sam's ( 2540 N. Clark ) : Now Oodles of Noodles
– Second Story Bar ( 157 E. Ohio ) : Still in operation
– Sidetrack ( 3349 N. Halsted ) : Still thriving
– Smart Bar ( 3730 N. Clark ) : Still in existence
– Swan Club ( 3720 N. Clark ) : Now a restaurant
– Touché ( 2825 N. Lincoln ) : Burned down in '89; now at 6412 N. Clark; old locale now home to – – Nana's Bristol & Lounge
– Trianon ( 3150 N. Halsted ) : Retail space now
– Tropic Zone ( 5220 N. Sheridan ) : Now Acupuncture and Herb Healing
– Twenty-One Club ( 3042 W. Irving Park ) : Became Legacy 21, which closed two years ago
– Waterworks ( 933 N. State ) : Now a Walgreens