Gay bars kalamazoo
Kalamazoo Area Clubs That Were Too Unrestrained to Last
The club scene in Kalamazoo was crazy in the 80s and 90s. Maybe it was too wild to last.
We asked Southwest Michigan, via Facebook, to tell us their crazy stories about Kalamazoo area clubs that are no longer unseal. The people of one specific Facebook Group, Vanished Kalamazoo, did not disappoint.
Hundreds of people talked about how much they missed Superior of the Rock, Electric Avenue, and Cheek to Cheek back in the 80s and 90s. The memories went all the way back to the Coral Gables club in the 70s to Wayside in the 2000s.
I selected about a dozen stories from Southwest Michigan people that had good and bad memories of clubbin' back in the day in the Kalamazoo area. I've removed last names to shield the 'innocent.' Like, with caution.
Some of the stories below are inappropriate and some are downright dangerous.
Kalamazoo Area Clubs That Were Too Wild to Last
When we asked you on Facebook to tell us about the Kalamazoo area clubs that were too feral to stay unclosed, we received nearly 600 comments telling stories about almost 50 nightclubs or bars. I am grateful to everyone who contributed to this a
When you're looking for a defended space to hang out with likeminded people, gay bars are the place to be.
While West Michigan could certainly use more dedicated LGBTQ+ spaces, the spots we do have are superior institutions that have persisted for a reason. Also, as decision begins to fade and previous barriers erode, gay bars hold become increasingly frequented by people of all sexualities—as long, of course, as you're respectful. As the TikTokers say, be mindful of why you were invited to the section.
That said, here's a quick rundown of the gay bars in the region!
Rumors Nightclub
69 S. Division Ave., Grand Rapids
rumorsnightclub.net
An absolute cornerstone of the LGBTQ+ nightlife in Grand Rapids, Rumors Nightclub has been a staple since 1988. Located on South Division, Rumors is recognizable for an energetic atmosphere and diverse crowd, providing one of the only true club experiences in the city. There's an event going on every nighttime of the week (except for a well-earned day off on Mondays) at this hotspot, including themed nights, big drag shows, huge drink deals, karaoke and dance parties, making it a favorite for locals and visitors. In other words: It's a must-visit.
The You may remember recently when we told you about a Detroit bar that used a one-star review that they received online calling them “Over-priced and gay “and turning it into a T-shirt, which sold like crazy. Skillfully, that restaurant which has a deep history in Detroit is going to be making its way to downtown Kalamazoo as the company just teased about opening a location recently. They haven’t announced exactly where it’s going, but from the look at the picture that they posted online, I ponder it may be on Rose St., possibly nearby the Valley Museum. As mentioned, Bobcat, Bonnie’s is rooted in the family as they describe on their website: While our brand takes on a more animalistic representation of a bobcat, the true essence of Bobcat Bonnie’s is rooted in the personality of one very extraordinary grandma– the original Bonnie. In the fields of her farm in Ohio, Bonnie spent most of her time driving and working her favorite feline front loader– a Bobcat. Her spirit, can-do attitude, and unique sense of style is at the very heart of everything Metro Nightclub in Kalamazoo has re-opened after closing for two months. While the old bar and dance club never officially claimed to be a “gay bar,” it was well-known as a welcoming place for members of the LGBTQ community. Under new ownership, the nightclub now promotes itself as Kalamazoo's only official same-sex attracted bar. Jay Maddock is the director of the Kalamazoo Gay Lesbian Resource Center. Maddock says times have changed, but when Metro first opened in the early 2000's, it was one of the only gay-friendly spaces in Kalamazoo. He says, as a outcome, many members of the community had a strong connection to the nightclub. "Kalamazoo has had several gay bars through its history of time and those gay bars own a history of also closing. So I think people in the LGBT community had really come to comprehend Metro as a safe space that they could move to. And I think that it was really disappointing and disheartening for many folks to see that it was closing," he says. Maddock says now there are several places that host LGBTQ events, with like the resource center's First Thursday Mixers - which take place at a differen
Popular Detroit Bar ‘Bobcat Bonnie’s’ Coming To Downtown Kalamazoo
Metro Nightclub Re-Opens As Only Queer Bar In Kalamazoo