The Eagle (bar) explained

The Eagle is a name used by multiple gay bars. It is not a franchise or chain of gay bars, but rather a name adopted by bars inspired by The Eagle's Nest, a leather bar in New York City. Bars that use the name "Eagle" typically cater to a clientele of gay men in leather and other kink subcultures. As of 2017, over 30 gay bars in locations around the world operate under the name "Eagle".

History

The first gay bar to operate under the name "The Eagle" was The Eagle's Nest (now named Eagle NYC), located in New York City. The bar originally operated as a longshoreman's tavern that opened in 1931 under the name Eagle Open Kitchen. Prompted by the Stonewall riots in 1969 and subsequent growth of the city's gay culture, the tavern's owners converted the establishment into a gay bar in 1970. The Eagle's Nest became a popular gathering point for the city's gay leather subculture, biker groups, and sports clubs, and subsequently inspired the creation of similarly named gay bars across the United States and internationally.

Gay bars that use the name "Eagle" operate as independent businesses, and are not managed by a single corporate entity in the manner of a franchise or chain store. Rather, Eagle bars typically share the common trait of catering to a clientele of masculine-presenting gay men, with specific emphasis on the kink and leather subcultures. The diffuse nature of the ownership of the name "Eagle" resulted in a conflict in 2007 between two gay bar owners in Portland, Oregon who both sought to use the name for their respective bars.

Not all Eagle bars conform to these characteristics; for example, Eagle London began as a leather bar before shifting towards a general LGBT clientele,[1] while Eagle Tokyo bills itself as a "Brooklyn-style" bar targeted towards bears.[2] Some Eagle locations historically enforced strict dress codes obligating patrons to wear leather garments, though NBC News reported in 2017 that these standards have largely been relaxed due to "both societal changes and business realities".

At their peak of popularity, over 50 bars around the world operated under the name "Eagle". As of 2017, there are over 30 Eagle bars, in countries including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Austria, and Japan.

Many Eagle bars hold (or held) annual leather competitions, some of which serve as feeder competitions for larger regional or international competitions such as International Mr. Leather.[3] [4] [5]

List of Eagle bars

NameImageCityCountryYear openedYear closed
Albuquerque EagleAlbuquerque2018[6]
Atlanta EagleAtlanta1987, 20222020[7] [8]
Baltimore EagleBaltimore1991[9]
Black EagleMontreal[10]
The Detroit EagleDetroit1973[11]
Black EagleToronto1994[12]
Chicago EagleChicagoc. 1987c. 1993[13]
DC EagleWashington, D.C.19712020[14]
Pittsburgh19942012[15]
Manchester2008[16]
Denver EagleDenver2022-[17]
Amsterdam1979[18]
EAGLE MPLSMinneapolis1998[19]
Eagle HoustonHouston2014[20]
Eagle LALos Angeles2006[21]
Eagle LondonLondon2004
Eagle NYCNew York City1970
Eagle PortlandPortland, Oregon
Eagle StuttgartStuttgart1989[22]
Eagle TokyoTokyo2016[23]
Eagle ViennaVienna[24]
Eagle Wilton ManorsWilton Manors[25]
Milwaukee Eagle Milwaukee19972001[26]
New Orleans1983[27]
San Francisco EagleSan Francisco1981[28]
Seattle EagleSeattle1980[29]
Dallas EagleDallas2000- (closed 2021; reopened 2023)[30] [31]
Austin EagleAustin2023[32] [33]
San Diego EagleSan Diego[34]
Eagle Sao PauloSão Paulo--[35]
Eagle SeoulSeoul--[36]
Providence EagleProvidence--[37] [38]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hudson . David . 'Sex clubs are dying… If we hadn't moved with the times, we'd be finished' . . May 12, 2021 . September 16, 2016 . May 12, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210512060331/https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/sex-clubs-dying-eagle-london/ . dead .
  2. Web site: Eagle Tokyo . GaijinPot Travel . 17 April 2018 . May 12, 2021 . 12 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210512103137/https://travel.gaijinpot.com/eagle-tokyo/ . live .
  3. Web site: Mister Marcus . 2007-02-27 . Too Many Leather Titles? . 2024-05-28 . Bay Area Reporter.
  4. Web site: Mister Marcus . 2008-10-06 . Marcus does Manhattan . 2024-05-28 . Bay Area Reporter.
  5. Web site: Mister Marcus . 2007-03-20 . Whooping it up in San Diego . 2024-05-28 . Bay Area Reporter.
  6. Web site: Skroch . Michael . ABQ Eagle at Sidewinders Bar and Grill . November 7, 2023 . August 7, 2018 . August 7, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180807062107/http://abqeagle.com/ . live .
  7. Web site: Towle . Andy . Andy Towle . Atlanta Eagle Gay Bar to Be Designated Historic Landmark, Saving it from Demolition . . May 11, 2021 . December 19, 2020 . May 11, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210511072851/https://www.towleroad.com/2020/12/atlanta-eagle-gay-bar/ . live .
  8. Web site: Spivak . Caleb . Longstanding Gay Bar Atlanta Eagle To Close In November, Plans To Reopen Elsewhere in 2021 . What Now Atlanta . May 11, 2021 . October 11, 2020 . May 12, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210512010809/https://whatnowatlanta.com/longstanding-gay-bar-atlanta-eagle-to-close-in-november-plans-to-reopen-elsewhere-in-2021/ . live .
  9. Web site: Kaltenbach . Chris . After closing three times, Baltimore Eagle reopens this month under its '90s-era founders . . May 12, 2021 . October 1, 2019 . May 12, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210512060325/https://www.baltimoresun.com/features/baltimore-insider/bs-fe-eagle-return-20191001-hollrrirvrer3k7zv74furajti-story.html . live .
  10. Web site: Forster . Tim . Montreal's Best LGBTQ Bars and Hangouts . Eater Montreal . 27 January 2017 . 2 June 2018 . 18 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190418135714/https://montreal.eater.com/maps/best-gay-queer-lesbian-bars-lgbtq-friendly-montreal . live .
  11. Web site: Baldas . Tresa . Photographer sues iconic Detroit gay bar over steamy photo used to promote military night . 2023-05-15 . Detroit Free Press . en-US . 2023-03-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230324174722/https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2022/06/08/menjos-gay-bar-sued-over-photo-buff-model/7546337001/ . live .
  12. Web site: Costa . Daniela . The changing face of Toronto's Village . . May 12, 2021 . April 3, 2013 . May 12, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210512040134/https://xtramagazine.com/power/the-changing-face-of-torontos-village-39470 . live .
  13. Web site: After 44 years, Man’s Country bathhouse closing with party - North . 2024-07-05 . digitaledition.chicagotribune.com.
  14. Web site: Chibbaro Jr. . Lou . DC Eagle to close for good . . May 11, 2021 . May 5, 2020 . May 12, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210512060147/https://www.washingtonblade.com/2020/05/05/dc-eagle-to-close-for-good/ . live .
  15. Web site: Nelson Jones . Diana . Three years after closing, the Eagle on North Side remains empty . . May 11, 2021 . April 20, 2015 . May 11, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210511235022/https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2015/04/20/Former/stories/201504200008 . live .
  16. Web site: Fetish nights in Gay Village get green light after row over sex in 'darkrooms' . 2 March 2020 . 22 July 2023 . 24 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230324142923/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/fetish-nights-gay-village-green-17846136 . live .
  17. Web site: Guggenheim . R . November 28, 2022 . Denver Eagle Facebook page . live . November 28, 2022 . Denver Eagle Facebook . November 28, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221128160749/https://www.facebook.com/denvereaglebar/photos .
  18. Web site: Roggema . Paul . Goed nieuws: Bear Pride groot succes . . May 12, 2021 . Dutch . April 2, 2014 . May 12, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210512050130/https://www.cocamsterdam.nl/amsterdam/goed-nieuws-bear-pride-groot-succes . live .
  19. Web site: Tarbox . Chris . Oh, He's A Jolly Good Eagle . Lavender Magazine . May 11, 2021 . August 29, 2019 . May 11, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210511232352/https://lavendermagazine.com/our-scene/oh-hes-a-jolly-good-eagle/ . live .
  20. Web site: About the Houston Eagle . Eagle Houston . May 11, 2021 . May 11, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210511231109/https://eaglehouston.com/about . live .
  21. Web site: Scott . Henry . Behind the Bar: An Interview with Eagle LA's Charlie Matula . Wehoville . May 11, 2021 . March 7, 2018 . May 11, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210511232358/https://wehoville.com/2018/03/07/behind-bar-interview-eagle-las-charlie-matula/ . live .
  22. Web site: Eagle Stuttgart . 2024-05-13 . de.
  23. Web site: Eagle Tokyo . . December 2017 . May 11, 2021 . May 12, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210512134449/https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/lgbt/eagle-tokyo . live .
  24. Web site: Eagle Vienna . May 20, 2021 . May 20, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210520121507/https://eagle-vienna.at/index.php/de/ . live .
  25. Web site: The Eagle Wilton Manors . Wilton Manors Eagle . May 20, 2021 . May 17, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210517202531/https://eaglebarwm.com/ . live .
  26. Web site: Milwaukee Eagle / Shaft Club . History of Gay and Lesbian Life in Milwaukee, Wisconsin . May 11, 2021 . May 11, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210511234738/http://www.mkelgbthist.org/business/bars/eagle-shaft.htm . live .
  27. Web site: Wilkinson . Missy . 10 LGBTQ Bars to Check Out in New Orleans, the Most 'Anything Goes' City in America . . May 11, 2021 . June 19, 2019 . May 12, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210512005306/https://www.thrillist.com/drink/new-orleans/best-gay-lgbtq-bars-new-orleans . live .
  28. Web site: Barmann . Jay . SF Eagle Bar Passes First Hurdle Toward Landmark Status . . May 11, 2021 . January 29, 2021 . May 12, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210512134415/https://sfist.com/2021/01/29/sf-eagle-bar-passes-hurdle-toward-landmark-status/ . dead .
  29. Web site: Henson . Randy . Randy Henson's Brief History of The Seattle Eagle: Daring To Be Different For 35 Years . Seattle Gay Scene . May 11, 2021 . June 27, 2015 . April 20, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210420094137/http://seattlegayscene.com/2015/06/randy-hensons-brief-history-of-the-seattle-eagle-daring-to-be-different-for-35-years/ . live .
  30. Web site: The Dallas Eagle . 2024-05-13 . en-US.
  31. Web site: Nash . Tammye . 2023-10-06 . Rumors confirmed: New Dallas Eagle to open Oct. 13 . 2024-06-09 . . en-US.
  32. Web site: The Austin Eagle . 2024-05-13 . The Austin Eagle . en-US.
  33. Web site: Scott . James . 2023-04-07 . Qmmunity: The Queer-ster Bunny . 2024-06-09 . . en-US.
  34. Web site: LGBTQ+ Friendly Bars, Clubs and Nightlife in San Diego . 2024-04-19 . www.sandiego.org . San Diego Tourism Authority . en-US.
  35. Web site: Facebook . 2023-02-11 . www.facebook.com . 2023-07-22 . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20230722170754/https://www.facebook.com/eaglesaopaulo . live .
  36. Web site: 2023-02-08 . Eagle Seoul 이글서울 : Most Kinky Nightlife in Itaewon . 2024-05-13 . Gay Travel Seoul . en-US.
  37. Web site: Providence Eagle . 2024-05-13 . providenceeagle.com.
  38. Web site: Providence Eagle on Instagram . 2024-05-13 . www.instagram.com.