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Sissy Bar (Portland, Oregon)

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Coordinates: 45°31′02″N 122°39′04″W / 45.5171°N 122.6511°W / 45.5171; -122.6511
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Not to be confused with Sissy bar or Sissy Bar.
Sissy Bar
Black-and-white graphic logo with the text 'Sissy Bar', 'Portland, OR', and 'Est. 2021'
Photograph of the exterior of a building
The bar's exterior, 2022
Map
Restaurant information
EstablishedJune 2022 (2022-06)
ClosedOctober 26, 2024 (2024-10-26)
Owner(s)
  • Truman Cox
  • Derek Palmer
Food typeColombian
Street address1416 Southeast Morrison Street
CityPortland
CountyMultnomah
StateOregon
Postal/ZIP Code97214
CountryUnited States
Coordinates45°31′02″N 122°39′04″W / 45.5171°N 122.6511°W / 45.5171; -122.6511
Websitesissybarportland.com

Sissy Bar was a gay bar in Portland, Oregon, United States. Truman Cox and Derek Palmer opened the video lounge in southeast Portland's Buckman neighborhood in June 2022, near another LGBTQ establishment named Crush Bar. Sissy Bar hosted drag shows, dance parties, and other themed events and played video montages from films and music videos by popular recording artists. The bar served Colombian cuisine, such as ajiaco, arepas, and empanadas. It closed permanently in October 2024, with owners citing the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason.

Description

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Sissy Bar was a gay bar on Morrison Street in southeast Portland's Buckman neighborhood, near the LGBTQ establishment Crush Bar. The name for Sissy Bar was a reclamation of the slur "sissy". The bar hosted themed events,[1] drag shows, and dance parties.[2] According to Eater Portland's Brooke Jackson-Glidden, the interior paid homage to Barracuda Lounge, which she described as "a classic New York drag bar". Sissy Bar had a similar backbar and long banquette,[1] as well as illuminated cubes, which Willamette Week's Andrew Jankowski compared to panels on Simon.[3]

Walls displayed photographs of "gay divas", such as Paris Hilton, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, and Dolly Parton.[3][4] Televisions played video montages from films[1] and music videos by artists, including Azealia Banks, City Girls, Grimes, and Megan Thee Stallion. Jankowski described the clientele as a "range of legal drinking ages", some of whom "appeared to have just left the office, while others were dressed to impress".[3]

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Sissy Bar used recipes from the Colombian family of the husband of one of the bar's owners.[1][5] In addition to cocktails, the bar served Colombian cuisine, such as ajiaco,[3] arepas (chicken and hogao),[6] croquetas de pescado (Colombian fish croquettes), empanadas, frijoles antioqueños,[2] and sudado de pollo (a spiced chicken stew).[1][7] The nachos had Juanita's tortilla chips with cheese, jalapeño, sour cream, and tomato, and the avocado salad had guacamole with cucumber, lime, and scallion.[6]

Among the "fruit-forward, pop culture-packed" cocktails were the Baby Got Back; the In the Heat of the Night;[2] the She's All That, which had tequila, elderflower, and berry syrup;[4] the Sissy Galore, which had lemon juice and grapefruit with orange bitters and Aviation American Gin; the Sissy Mule; the Sissy MANhattan; and the Will Smith Punch, which referred to the Chris Rock–Will Smith slapping incident (2022).[3]

History

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Photograph of the interior of a bar with illuminated cubes in the background
Photograph of the interior of a bar, with chairs and tables
The bar's interior in 2022

In December 2021, Jackson-Glidden described plans for Truman Cox, who previously worked at the Benson Hotel, and Derek Palmer, who previously worked at restaurants Brasserie Montmartre and Raven & Rose,[5] to open Sissy Bar in February 2022.[1] Both owners experienced bullying in their youth and said the bar's name was to reclaim the pejorative slur "sissy".[1][8] The bar opened in mid-June,[9] shortly after Portland's annual pride parade and festival.[3] Palmer was the bar's owner-operator.[5]

Among events the bar has hosted are Ingenue, a lesbian dance party by DJ Lavender Menace's, and Shape of Drag, described as a "high concept" show by Silhouette.[2] In June 2023, the bar hosted Lacefront, a three-day drag show and charity event showcasing local drag performers, including Imperial Sovereign Rose Court titleholders.[10] Sissy Bar also hosted a show with the drag performer Flawless Shade.[11]

In October 2024, the owners announced plans to close permanently following a Halloween party on October 26,[12] citing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. A statement thanked patrons and emphasized the importance of supporting local businesses and the LGBTQ community.[13]

Reception

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Andrew Jankowski of Willamette Week said Sissy Bar and Crush were "like sister bars", noting their "Instagrammble entrees" and "fruity" cocktails.[3] He said Sissy Bar's drinks go along with "picturesque, savory" Colombian dishes, which he felt needed additional seasoning.[3] In other articles, the newspaper recommended the Will Smith Punch.[14] In 2023, Thom Hilton said the nachos were the best snack for a group in Willamette Week's "Pride Fuel Guide".[6]

Sissy Bar received the Bar / Business of the Year Award from the Imperial Sovereign Rose Court of Oregon in 2023.[15] Writing for Eater Portland in 2024, Hilton noted that Sissy Bar built a lunchtime customer base, including some locals of Colombian ancestry, and said some residents in the area went for the Colombian cuisine.[5] Rebecca Roland of Eater Portland called the bar's closure "a blow to Portland's queer community" and praised the bar for its community and Colombian food.[16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (2021-12-14). "A New LGBTQ Bar Is Coming to Southeast Portland". Eater Portland. Vox Media. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  2. ^ a b c d Jankowski, Andrew (2023-10-12). "A Comprehensive Guide to Portland's Best LGBTQ+ Nightlife". Portland Monthly. ISSN 1546-2765. Archived from the original on 2022-06-05. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Jankowski, Andrew (2022-11-09). "Video Lounge Sissy Bar and Crush Bar's Rebranded Coffee Shop, Opal's, Round Out a New Trinity of Southeast Morrison Queer Bars". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2023-09-30. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  4. ^ a b Reed, Conner (2017-04-21). "Portland's Most Fabulous LGBTQ Bars That Are Ready for Pride". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  5. ^ a b c d Hilton, Thom (2024-07-18). "Meet the Cooks Redefining What It Means to Eat at Portland's Queer Bars". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  6. ^ a b c Hilton, Thom (2023-07-05). "Pride Fuel Guide: You'll Be Rewarded by Embracing the Kitchens at Portland's Queer Bars". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2023-09-24. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  7. ^ Hilton, Thom (2017-04-21). "The Liveliest LGBTQ Bars and Clubs in Portland". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2024-06-05.
  8. ^ "National: Vermont judges, trans bishop, Jared Polis, gay mayor". Windy City Times. 2022-01-02. ISSN 1049-698X. OCLC 20341561. Archived from the original on 2023-05-30. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  9. ^ "A Guide to Portland's Latest Restaurant Openings". Eater Portland. 2021-01-27. Archived from the original on 2022-03-05. Retrieved 2024-10-31.
  10. ^ Jankowski, Andrew (2023-07-05). "Ultimate Pride Guide 2023". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2023-09-24. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  11. ^ Gebel, Meira (June 15, 2023). ""Pride is a protest" for Portland drag queen Flawless Shade". Axios Portland. Cox Enterprises. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  12. ^ Wong, Janey (2024-10-10). "The Portland Restaurant Closings to Know, October 2024". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  13. ^ "Sissy Bar, East Portland LGBTQ+ Video Lounge, Announces Closure". Willamette Week. 2024-10-14. Retrieved 2024-10-15.
  14. ^ Willamette Week:
  15. ^ "The Imperial Rose Crown Bar/Business of the Year Award". Imperial Sovereign Rose Court of Oregon. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
  16. ^ Roland, Rebecca (2024-10-29). "Portland Loses Another Beloved LGBTQ Bar". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2024-10-31.
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