Karma (Gay Bar)

Karma was a large dance bar located on Woodward Ave in Ferndale which later switched to Boogie Fever which it still is today. It think it was only gay for about a year. Share you stories....

 Photo source: DJ TimmyD

Cobalt (Gay Bar)

Cobalt was the old Doug's Body Shop in Ferndale. They re-modeled Doug's into Cobalt. Cobalt was a fun place and I enjoyed it while it lasted. The bar was partly owned by Tom G from Backstreet. Tom had sold Backstreet and still held the liquor license to Backstreet. He got into a fight with his new owners of Backstreet and closed it down which resulted in a lawsuit which Tom lost. The Oakland County Sheriff's dept did undercover surveillance of the place (Cobalt)  and found some drugs being sold (Wow, really? drugs in a nightclub?) and because one of the bartenders had his ass showing they forced it to close. It is now called Posh and is a straight club. People complain that there are no good large dance nightclubs in the suburbs, but if anyone does open one, the police harass the shit out of them.

Doug's Body Shop (Gay Bar)

Doug's was a straight bar and restaurant for years then it changed to gay. It later became Cobalt. It had old cars that were made into booths that you would sit in. It was popular for a few years. Post your stories and comments..

Q (Gay Bar)

Q was located on Nine Mile in Ferndale. I used to be a bank many years ago. It is owned by Tom who owns Soho. He later changed the name to "9" It was quite popular for a few years. They had a problem in the winter time with checking coats and taking cover, etc at the door which created a long line to get in. People thought they were doing this on purpose (To make it look like it was a popular club) and got pissed off because of the long wait outside in the freezing cold. The gay crowd is very fickle in Detroit, piss them off and they won't come back. This rumor spread that they were doing this on purpose and the club slowly died. Also, the music totally sucked. Tom is very cheap when it comes to paying DJs. You can't have a dance club with crap for music. I remember I was there for a Halloween party and the DJ (who will remain nameless), didn't have Thriller! That's like having Christmas without Santa Claus. Post your stories and comments... Also check out my other blog: motorgay.net

Soho (Gay Bar)

Soho is located on 9 Mile in Ferndale. It is a video bar, although they don't really play videos? It is owned by Tom who is a really nice guy. But, the drinks are over priced compared to Pronto, thus Pronto always wins the crowd. Tom thinks of his drink prices compared to straight bars, he can't get it through his skull that really the only competition on the planet earth for Soho is Pronto. Why go to a bar that is less crowed and pay more for a drink? Post your stories...

Soho's website

Pronto (Gay Bar)

Pronto is located on Washington Ave in Royal Oak. It is a video bar and restaurant. The food is just ok, always has been.  Deli sandwiches are made fresh and and the only thing I would eat there. The video bar is still quite popular. The crowd is mostly over 30 but mixed. The music is terrible for a video bar, most of the patrons grew up in the 70's and 80's and they play almost no 70's or 80's music. They recently expanded their patio and it is huge. Wednesdays have Karaoke and it is quite busy and fun.

Pronto website

Maxie's (Gay Bar)

Maxie's was located in a strip mall at I-96 and Telegraph Rd. It was not open for very long. I was a large bar I remember. The interior I would describe as "Upper scale white trash nightclub decor" I never really liked it but a lot of people did. Post your stories....

The Rainbow Room (Gay Bar)

The Rainbow room is on 8 Mile Rd around hoover-ish. It used to be called the Railroad Crossing and was a lesbian bar. It is just a gay bar now. I've only been there once and it reminded me of the bar from the original Star Wars movie, I have not gone back.

The Railroad Crossing (Gay bar)

As I remember in the 80's the Railroad was a lesbian bar. I never went there in the 80's and was told that you couldn't get in unless you were with a girl. It is now called the Rainbow room. Post your stories...

Chains (Gay Bar)

I don't think I ever went to Chains and can't remember where it was located. Post your stories and what you know...

The Wild Goose (Gay Bar)

I can't remember where the Wild Goose was located? I did go there a few times. Post what you know about it...

Bretz (Gay Bar)

Bretz is located in Toledo. I include it because it is close to Detroit and many of us have made the trip. It is quite a fun bar and it still there. My ex, Tenya (Bill) Sasse was from Toledo and we used to go there. Sadly, he committed suicide some years ago. Post your stories...

Bretz myspace page

Innuendo (Gay Bar)

Innuendo is located on the service drive to I-75, between 6 & 7 mile. It was a stripper bar for a while, then it was popular for after-hours for a few years. It slowly changed from a white crowd to African American. I went there one night and there was a black lesbian riot going on in the parking lot, the police showed up, it was crazy. After that, everyone stopped going there. It is still open and is strictly a black club now. It is run by Jim Stewart.  Also check out my other blog: motorgay.net

Numbers (Gay bar)

Numbers was an after-hours joint on Woodward Ave just down from Salute. It used to be called Midnight Sun. It was owned by Tom (Big dick Tom) for many years. It was very seedy but fun for quite a few years. Tom was known for having a lot of fires.... Finally, one of the local news stations ran a undercover story of how they were selling liquor after-hours and that shut it down for good. Tom was really drugged out in the end and was even at a hospital in Detroit and stole an ambulance and took off. He died a few years ago. 

Midnight Sun (Gay bar)

Midnight Sun was located on Woodward Ave just down from Salute. It was mostly an after-hours joint and later changed it's name to Numbers. You could always get a "Special" after-hours. Quite the seedy joint and dangerous outside the place. I knew many people who were robbed or had their cars stolen outside of this place. See other post for Numbers. Post you comments...

Salute (Gay bar and restaurant)

Salute was located on Woodward Ave between Backstage and Tiffany's. It is now called La Dolce Vita. I remember in the 80's it was where the stuck up Groose Pointe crowd hung out. My friend Neil used to own it among others. It really used to be mostly gay, now La Dolce Vita gets more of a straight crowd. Post your stories....

5 West (Gay Bar)

5 West was located on 7 mile at John R. I don't know anything about it. Post your stories...

The Body Zone (Bath House)

The Body Zone is located in Highland Park on 6 Mile Rd right on the corner of the service drive to I-75. I can't remember what year it opened. When it opened, they said they were going to do all this stuff like put in a Jacuzzi that would rival the one at Steamworks in Chicago. They had a fiberglass one for a long time, I think it is broken and they have not replaced it. Basically, they just have a steam room, that's it. One thing I have to give TnT credit for, they always kept TnT very clean, The Body Zone is dirty, it smells, the rooms are dirty and they have not done any updating to it since it opened. The thing I do give them credit for is they have parties like a "blackout" party where they dim the lights, stupid, but it does draw a crowd. Steamworks in Chicago has a whole third floor which is a "play" area, with a maze of all kinds of fun stuff and glory hole booths The Body Zone just has this stupid 2 dark hallways. It is one of the worst designed bath houses I've ever been to. There is no fun. Post your comments...


The Body Zone Website

TnT Health Club (Bath house)

Tnt Health club is located on 8 mile rd in Detroit. It has been open for years, I'm not sure exactly the year it opened. I have not been there in years. I've heard that they are not open 24 hours anymore. It has a indoor swimming pool and the facilities are quite nice. They had a fire years ago and the "rooms" burned down, so they had tents set up in this large room. Then when The Body Zone opened it forced them to build new ones. I think the Body Zone takes most of the bath house business. Share your stories, I'm sure you have many!

The Bitter Lemon (Gay Bar)

The Bitter Lemon was located on Jefferson in Detroit.  I heard a couple of people mention it. Post in the comments below if you know anything about it. Ca. 1972-1973

MB II (Malebox 2) Gay Bar

The owner of the Malebox in Detroit has opened in a new location in Warren on Hoover Rd, just north of Nine Mile Rd. It is very similar to the old Malebox and has some of the same bartenders. Also check out my other blog: motorgay.net


Here is the Facebook page for MB II:
Malebox II Facebook page

Incognito (Gay bar)

Incognito was a gay bar in Detroit, I don't know where it was located. Please post any info in comments section below.

The Interchange (Gay Bar)

The Interchange later became the Detroit Eagle. A leather bar. Post your comments.

The Mirage (Gay Bar)

The Mirage was a gay bar located in Mt Clemens that someone mentioned. I don't know anything about it. Post what you know in comments section below.

Morey's (Gay Bar)

Someone said it was on Michigan Ave and was open from approx 1970-1972. Any info, please post in comments section.

The Aruba (Gay Bar)

I'm not sure where exactly the Aruba was located. I don't think I was ever there. Post your comments.

Taboo (Gay Bar)

Taboo was a short lived gay bar downtown. I can't remember where it was exactly. It was really quite a nice bar on the inside. I remember there was this Asian drag queen who was quite the thing back then and he was at the door when you came in. Does anyone remember him? What ever happened to him? I can't remember exactly what year the bar was open? Post anything you know in the comments section.