Tuesday, September 1, 2009

The Sweetheart Bar, Detroit Michigan (Gay Bar)

I have heard a couple of references to The Sweetheart Bar. I do not know anything about it, help! There was a book called "Jack Lait's Lee Mortimer's 1952 USA Confidential" which states "Fairies patronize the Sweetheart bar" I'm sure it was downtown. If you know any more about this bar, please post. I need the exact location and pictures would be great. Please post any stories about it that you know.

26 comments:

  1. Joe's Sweetheart Lounge was on Third until the 90s. In the late 80s on it was a pretty diverse bar, but not specifically a gay bar, more down and out.

    Joe (The Big Mexican) owned the place and was found dead behind the bar one day (pickpocketed at that). Kathy used to bartend.

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    1. Families read these posts I don't care how old once its on here its permanent. You should really choose your words wisely and not disrespect my fathers name or give him a "slosh name " at that. As a 9 year old as I've said when it happened he was not pick pocketed I saw with my own eyes the shame of his siblings looking for anything to take before he was even transported to the hurse. They shamed his existence although he loaned money to his brother who never paid back the full loan of his own bar. The family who made me feel like dirt on the worst day of my life! Making me feel unwanted. I am his only daughter and it had a huge impact on how things go down when youre a kid and have no say so. He was my rock. Disregarded for bring half white because my dad fell in love with my mom. Thats fate.
      -his one and only daughter---'Emmajoegranado

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    2. And FYI it was not a gay bar get your facts straight
      -emmajoegranado

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    3. It was a gay bar, to be more specific, a lesbian bar. Back in the 40s, 50s and 60s during the counter culture times, before Bobby Cluesman bought it. Took me a lot of research to confirm, but it was. In particular it was a lesbian bar. You can read about it in "Creating a Place For Ourselves: Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Community Histories." Its turn into a hard core shot and beer bar happened with the decline of the Corridor post 67 riots and the crack epidemic of the 80s. I know we - me and you Mita/Emma and Marissa - don't remember as being a LGBT place, but it was.

      Now if the original author is looking for information on The Sweetheart's history as a lesbian establishment, may I suggest "Creating a Place For Ourselves: Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Community Histories" by Brett Beemyn.

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  2. My understandng was it was gay in the 1950's. The the building is still there. The logo was a big heart. I never went there.

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    1. I went there in the 60's. It was gay.

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  3. I know that this is a relatively old blog post, but Joe Granado, the owner of the Sweetheart, was my Uncle, and no it was not a gay bar. Kathy was not the only barmaid, my mom tended bar as well and my uncle was indeed found dead there - by my myself and my cousin (his daughter) back in 1997. He was not murdered - or pick-pocketed - he died of a heart attack; he was 70 years old. Before my uncle took hold of the bar back in the 80s, it was owned by Bobby Cluesman, a good family friend, and it was a whites only bar, which meant no gay people either to Bobby. Hopefully you'll read this post and things will be sorted through. I know nothing of it's history before the 70s, however.

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    1. I am the daughter you all feel the need to talk about my father and don't know all the facts most is based on hear say. pick pocketed by his own siblings yes I was 9 years old and saw it with my own eyes.Its a shame when people closest to you are the first to see how much money they can take or tools and misc they can take out before my father was even loaded into the hurse. I found him at that age and you all should have some respect reguardless of what kind of bar it used to be is not the point. He was hard working took care of me. his only child and was my hero, a united states air force retired, and 30 years as a Detroit police officer. that's what should be remembered the bar was a side job, why don't you all stop being so quick to judge and make sure your hands are clean....
      -sincerely his only child,daughter

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  4. I know that this is a relatively old blog post, but Joe Granado, the owner of the Sweetheart, was my Uncle, and no it was not a gay bar. Kathy was not the only barmaid, my mom tended bar as well and my uncle was indeed found dead there - by my myself and my cousin (his daughter) back in 1997. He was not murdered - or pick-pocketed - he died of a heart attack; he was 70 years old. Before my uncle took hold of the bar back in the 80s, it was owned by Bobby Cluesman, a good family friend, and it was a whites only bar, which meant no gay people either to Bobby. Hopefully you'll read this post and things will be sorted through. I know nothing of it's history before the 70s, however.

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    1. in 1940-41 my mother was a singer at the sweetheart bar. Her name was Mildred Lalonde. She would bring me there to practice in the daytime. I was only 4 when she took a nap because she wasn' t feeling well. She passed away in her sleep. She was 26 years old. I have often wondered if there were any pictures,records or any bill boards of her. We lived on 3rd and Selden.

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  5. also, the location was 3928 Third street on the corner of Cass and Selden.

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    1. As I recall Third St. and Cass Ave. ran parallel. I believe it was on Cass Ave and probably had a Cass Ave. address, not a Third St. address.

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    2. 3928 Third was the address. It's taken me six years to realize my typo. Cass and 3rd do run parallel. The bar was on the corner of 3rd & Selden. The pizzeria that was next door is still standing. It's been closed for years, but its still there.

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  6. There was a bar on Pierson and Plymouth, just to the East of Burt Road and Plymouth which had a big heart but I can't recall the name of it. Is there anyone that can?

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  7. in the late 70's early 80's i didnt feel it was "a white bar" or a "gay bar"
    there were occasional prostitutes and neighborhood people drinking from what i saw
    low key and definitely a dive

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  8. in the late 70's early 80's i didnt feel it was "a white bar" or a "gay bar"
    there were occasional prostitutes and neighborhood people drinking from what i saw
    low key and definitely a dive

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  9. I found an old pic of a couple at the Sweetheart Bar dated 7/7/1942. Anyone still around that might know them, would like to get this to their Family..

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    1. I know the owners daughter. She is 93. I would love to give her a photo.

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    2. I would love a photo. Wish i could see this bigger

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    3. mY MOTHER WAS A SINGER IN 1942. i WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE PICTURE.

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    1. You do know he helped many people. The name adding of sweetheart at Lj s lounge would have been a slap in Joe's face as he put them in business and they never even acknowledge him afterwards. Maybe guilt or revamping there image? Joe knew and sue and Robert knew as well Robert couldn't even be at the service he sent sue so how close were they really? Remember you can not take money with you when you die. Greed sometimes over shadows friendship.

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  11. Ok ... I was born 1967 ... Mom took me there to see grandma there all the time ... I was under impression that grandparts on Ginsberg side owned it & later sold it ... I can't recall address of Sweetheart Bar in Detroit , I will ask my brother if he remembers it. Mom always took us there to get $ from grandma & I recall going behind bar to help wash glasses while there for 1/2 he to see her. Grandpa had already passed away when mom took us kids there to see grandma Ann Ginsberg.... Never heard it called Joe's Sweetheart Bar .. So wounded if there was 2 hard with the name Sweetheart Bar

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    1. I know the owner’s daughter. She is 93.

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    2. Hi! Sweetheart Bar is on 3928 Third Street, according to Roey Thorpe's essay in Brett Genny Beemyn's book "Creating A Place for Ourselves". Also, I'm currently doing a project on the LGBT history of Detroit, and I want to talk about Sweetheart Bar. However, I can't find a picture, and I was wondering if you had one. If you do, is it possible for you to email it to me? I totally understand if you don't have one, or aren't comfortable doing so. Wishing you a wonderful weekend! Cheers!

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  12. Listing a glass from this establishment on ebay

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