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Gay bar eau claire

 

Scooters opened in Eau Claire on January 3, 1997, under the ownership of Wayne Marek, who was the owner of another operating LGBT bar a block away, Trading Company. The business location had previously been open first as nights-only gay block The Back Door (1991-1992) and then Scruples (1992-1996).

The first months of advertisements for 'Scooters' shared ad space with The Trading Company ads, in at least one case calling it a "sister bar".

In December 1997, the block had "new owners Jody & Dave", and ads no longer mentioned the Trading Company. The modern owners held a Grand Opening on Friday February 6, 1998.

Our understanding in mid-2022 is that Jody Kvapil and David Beranek are both still business partners in the block as it celebrates 25 years in business serving the LGBT community-- one of the 8 oldest LGBT bars in the state.

Bar Lights and Dance Floor (from their web site, early 2021)
 

 

Drag Shows
(from their web site, early 2021)
 

 

Advertisement for opening
(Quest vol. 3 #24 - Dec. 1996)
 
Article about Scooters opening
(Quest vol. 3 #24 - Dec. 1996)
&

Wisconsin’s oldest gay lock has closed

This Is It, the oldest LGBTQ+ bar in Wisconsin, has closed its doors for good. Here’s why the business couldn’t survive. 

This Is It, located at 418 E Wells Road in Milwaukee, has officially closed. In a Facebook share on March 9, the establishment wrote: “This summer would have been the 57th anniversary of This is It!. Unfortunately, that celebration will not approach to pass. As of today, we have closed our doors permanently. The COVID crisis and the years monitoring 2020, coupled with the 8 month closure of our street and sidewalk last year, position the business in a position that we could not ultimately overcome.”

The business—which was co-owned by “RuPaul’s Drag Race” star and Wisconsin native Trixie Mattel—went on to appreciate its staff as well as the wider community and patrons.”It’s with much sadness, but with so much care, we bid all of you farewell. Take care of each other, and please continue to support local and queer-owned businesses.”

Reactions from the community 

The announcement brought a mix of emotions, with one user commenting, “extremely disappointing, not even givi

16 LGBTQ+ Pride Events in Wisconsin

PrideFest - Milwaukee 

Henry W. Maier Festival Park (Summerfest Grounds), 200 N Harbor Dr, Milwaukee

Wisconsin’s largest Pride event, this 3-day extravaganza brings people together in celebration of the LGBTQ+ society. Dance the days away with a star-studded lineup of live entertainment, peruse vendors, savor your fill of sustenance trucks and disburse quality time with your favorite people.

Ride With Pride - Milwaukee Area

House of Harley-Davidson, 6221 W Layton Avenue, Greenfield

Ride With Pride is a free season kickoff event for the Wisconsin Movement Rides motorcycle team. What started as one rider’s concept is now unofficially the largest Queer motorcycle run anywhere. Link the fun by meeting at the House of Harley-Davidson in Milwaukee and ride with pride!

Wausau Pride - Wausau

400 Block, Whitewater Tune Hall and Main Wisconsin Convention & Expo Center, Rothschild

There's a lot planned for Wausau Pride! Start with family-friendly fun at the 400 Block in downtown Wausau with live music, vendors and more. Teens can party too at Whitewater Song Hall in downtown Wausau. Then at night, enjoy performative and open mic perf

In 1990 Eau Claire, there was a cafe/restaurant/music venue called the Breadline that wasn't doing too well. A man named Clay Crowley, who had worked as a bartender at Downtown Convey, offered to help the Breadline with the rent if he could use the place as a bar at night. Thus on March 1st, 1991 the "Back Door" opened as a gay bar: there was a sign on the front with the original business name (Breadline), while the rear door faced a public parking lot.

The 'Back Door' began to appear in the Guide of the state's primary LGBT periodical, 'In Step' magazine, in issue 8-12 (June 20, 1991).

The bar must include found some success, and by April 1992 Clay Crowley had taken over the lease and held a "name the bar" contest- with the winning identify being 'Scruples', that name first appearing in 'In Step' magazine's Guide starting in the August-September 1992 issue (vol. 9-17).

Listings for the bar in the state's LGBT media took some occasion to be updated; for a time, the business was listed twice, under both the recent and old bar names (see examples below). The last listing as "Back Door' was in the Guide of 'In Step' magazine in issue 10-07 (April, 1993).

As of April 2022, an LGBT b