Monday, September 12, 2011

5 West (Gay Bar)

5 West was located on 7 mile at John R. I don't know anything about it. Post your stories...
Bookmark and Share
Posted by Chris H at 4:45 PM
Labels:

11 comments:

  1. AnonymousSeptember 25, 2011 at 2:10 PM

    The 5 west was on Jhon R. and 7 mile. It was a very small bar and was Lesbian.Although the music was a bit loud it was still a good bar to go to with friends.The owners were very friendly,I believe one was named Lauren.The name of the bar was printed on the glasses and I don't know of anyone who did not have a few in there cupboards at home LOL. It opened in the late 70's and closed in the early 80's and made into a coney island,(SAD)There weren't many small womans bars around so alot were sad when it closed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousOctober 5, 2017 at 9:15 PM

      Yes, it was Lauren, I remember, and YES, I still have a glass or two at home!

      Delete
  2. AnonymousSeptember 25, 2011 at 2:36 PM

    I remember the 5 West. If I met a guy, and we wanted to get away from the cruising at men's bars, we would happen into the 5 West. We would be the only men, and that made it perfect. It was a neat little place, with good music.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Daryl-AtlantaDecember 22, 2011 at 1:09 PM

    5werst opened in 76/77 by Stephen Gnass, Tom G and Harry Rocap...all of Tiffany's (Stephens Saloon - Atlanta/Detroit) (Tom G later had backstreet and Cobalt in Detroit) and modeled the interior after the early days of the original Backstreet in Atlanta (remember the brass Rhino and the staff wearing the same color of Izod/Alligator shirts that changed each night and khaki slacks?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousMarch 15, 2012 at 2:21 PM

      My first boy friend Ron worked at 5 west and Stephens. I liked 5 West. Stephen Gnass sold it to the women and it became real popular. Does anyone know what ever happend to Stephen Gnass?

      Delete
    2. AnonymousMay 17, 2012 at 10:39 PM

      Stephen lives in the L.A. area and runs a company for inventors. He's on the web, look him up by name. STEPHEN PAUL GNASS He lost all his Mich investments...bars, realestate and home in Troy due to bankruptcy long ago.

      Delete
  4. Daryl-AtlantaDecember 22, 2011 at 1:09 PM

    Correction "5West"...do pun/disrespect intended.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Larry BohannonApril 1, 2012 at 10:55 PM

    Ladies Love/5 West Lounge was run by Lauren and Mar (Marlene). It was one of the classiest Lesbian bars in Detroit's long gay history. Unlike some of the other Lesbian clubs that came and went this one was friendly to any and all gay guys who stopped in to visit. I was hired to open the club up as their 1st D.J. in 1979. The atmosphere was really cozy and personal. A real joy to spend nights huddled close together talking, drinking and of course - dancing the night away! Both of the owners, along with their two girlfriends did a really great job of bringing their vision of a superior club for women to fruition. The big problem the club had was very limited parking, which ended up being the club's downfall when extended parking across the street was taken away by homophobic lot owners. Later after the club closed the owners opened up (mostly strait) Malibu Restaurant and Bar in Royal Oak.

    ReplyDelete
  6. NoelinmichOctober 24, 2013 at 8:13 PM

    It was one of the nicest Lesbian bars in Detroit way back in the day. Of course now I'm a Detroit expat living in Atlanta. Noel

    ReplyDelete
  7. anonymousDecember 8, 2016 at 4:20 AM

    Th e Malibu was indeed 3 miles north in Royal Oak. The clientele was mostly straight but the owners were two lesbian friends. I workef with them at Casablanca, another lesbian owned restaurant before working for them at Malibu.

    ReplyDelete
  8. UnknownJanuary 29, 2021 at 6:55 PM

    I remember it as Lady Love. My GF and I used to walk there from our place. I loved playing pool and dancing.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)