The Hayloft Saloon (Still open) is located at 8070 Greenfield Rd in Detroit. I've been there once, it was slow when I was there. It is kind of a leather, country-western type crowd. Very blue collar and proud. If you have any stories about the history of the Hayloft, please post them.
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http://www.hayloftsaloon.com/
A definite "hit-or-miss". Friday nights are the best...albeit LATE. The later it gets the hotter the boys are that come in.
ReplyDeleteI used to go there in the 90's and the bartender and owner were really nice. They had hamburgers cooking behind the bar. I had a crush on the (married) bartender and tried often to seduce him. It was low key, not your ordinary festive gay bar-- that was down the street, but the people there were genuinely nice and easy going and the patrons were great. I miss that place sometimes.
ReplyDeleteThe year was 1980, and Leonard Lippert opened the Hayloft Saloon. Leonard's boyfriend Eddie had wanted Leonard to open a bar, so he did. Leonard, who had been a life long employee of Manufacturer's Bank in Detroit, had just retired at age 63. The Hayloft was modeled after the Silver Star Bar in Detroit just down the street.
ReplyDeleteA lot took place during Leonard's tenure as the owner. His boyfriend Eddie was manager and also bartended. Terry, Jerry Stone, Bob Spires, George Merrill and a host of other Detroit bartender legends helped shape the Hayloft over the next 16 years. Casey Cooper was one of the first parking lot guards and was so popular with customers that when he was of age he graduated to bar tending.
The Hayloft has had more than a few "nick-names" throughout the years: “The Grayloft”, “God's Waiting Room”, “Daddy’s bar”. Mainly because Mr. Lippert was 63 when he changed the format from a blue collar straight bar to a 35 and up gay bar. It became a bar know to attract an older, more mature crowd. But crowds it did attract!
In 1996, 38 year old Ron Harrington from Traverse City (born & raised in Flint), purchased the Hayloft from Leonard Lippert & is the current owner today. Ron was and is the owner of Side Traxx Video Dance Bar in Traverse City, which he transformed from an aging little tavern called the Depot Bar in 1988. This was the first gay bar in Michigan north of Grand Rapids.
Many friends have come and gone through the Hayloft’s doors. Many more have discovered the friendship and camaraderie that Ron Harrington’s Hayloft Saloon offers. The Hayloft has a very loyal customer base and it is always expanding!
We are proud to announce a new addition to the Hayloft, Sports & Video Bar offering Karaoke, pool, darts internet juke box & now 4 - 42" HD LCD with all the bells & whistles! The system is being designed to accommodate 8 big screens, in the near future. We will feature 2 video (Top 40 & Country) nights a week as well as all sports all the time. Multiple big screens means multiple games! We look forward to seeing old friends & making some new ones!
The rest as they say is history.
Ron Harrington’s Hayloft Saloon in Detroit is THE PLACE FOR FUN! For over 29 years The Hayloft has been successfully serving the GLBT community.
Daily Specials and Weekly Special Events insure that something FUN is always happening at The Hayloft!
Darts, Pool, a world class Internet Jukebox, four LCD screen televisions plus friendly and attentive bartenders are at YOUR service!
ALWAYS A GAME ON OUR SCREENS!
NEVER A COVER! ALWAYS A BLAST!
OPEN 2pm - 2am EVERYDAY!
8070 Greenfield Road, Detroit, MI 48228 313.581.8913
HAPPY HOUR IS 2pm - 9pm EVERYDAY!
Where Friends Meet!
www.hayloftsaloon.com
You forgot one name we all know it by------ The Wrinkle Room.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to correct you but the nickname " Wrinkle Room " was for the Silver Star Bar. After the Silver Star closed I guess you can say all the wrinkles went to The Hayloft including me.
DeleteRon Harrington is a hypocritical dreg of a human being, who makes sexual advances on his employees, goes to other bars to get his coke while forbidding it in his own, and has no right to own a bar. He under pays his employees as casual labor for 20 bucks a shift to avoid his taxes, gives his staff all of the responsibility with absolutely zero authority, leaves for weeks at a time, then returns to fire anyone who he deems necessary without actual observation and objectivity. I will never darken the door of that bar again.
ReplyDeleteWho ever wrote this is either a disgruntle employee or customer. Who is no longer welcome there for reasons of their own poor social skills. What goes around comes around and now you... sound like a hypocritical dreg of a human being. Have a (coke) & a smile and move on. I mean (soft drink)when I said coke. Just like your reference.
DeleteI used to go there,always a great time. I miss my buddies Jim & Lee. Lee died in the 90's. Black Ernie,Post office Bill,Dearborn Bill, Joe who loved to dance to Michael Jackson. Security Guard Irwin,very tall silly laugh. Does anyone know where these guys are now?
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One of the few gay bars left in the city. People are friendly and there seems to be a large variety of men on any given night. Fridays is bear night and that tends to draw a reasonable sized crowd from time to time. Lately its been pretty hit or miss as to how packed it is but any event seems to draw a reasonably large crowd. This was my first gay bar in the metro area so Im sure it will always hold a special place in my heart.
ReplyDeleteAlso this blog is awesome. As someone from the younger generation it amazes me to see that there was a semi thriving gay community in Detroit at any point. It would be amazing to see it go back to even half of its former glory.