Santa Barbara’s newest gay bar “The Pub” has opened at 224 Helena Ave in the Funk Zone. A gay bar with the same name used do business on Helena Ave decades ago.
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I don’t think it’s a “gay” bar per-se.
Actually, (whomever you are?) I own “the pub”. Bernie is the ” Landlord”. If you are going to put things in print, know your facts. And, by the way, it is, in fact, a gay bar and it was always meant to be. Everyone, of course, is welcome!
thank you to the owner for making it clear! this makes me wanna give you all my money and business. well, whatever Im not putting in a savings. Wooooh gay! <3
I don’t think it’s specifically a gay bar either.
But, I am sure Bernie is gay as all get-go that this project FINALLY came to light!
We knew practically everyone – including the staff – when The Pub was in its glory days back in the early/mid 90′s. The bartenders (Bobby, etc), the DJs (David Rice, Tammy Lemae, etc), the managers (David (who committed suicide, etc), the barbacks (Randy (who to this day is my current boyfriend of 21 years; we met at The Pub)), & many more. I used to dance there and was well known for a period of time. In fact, myself and Randy have the *only known video tape* of everyone inside The Pub (which we recorded) on New Year’s Eve 1995. It’s a lengthy VHS tape and shows all the the faces that made the pub a legacy. We both wish the bar the best of success.
Hey, skinny. I liked the photo. Still north of the border?
It is a 100% gay bar.
John,
My husband and I were there twice this weekend, and it the ratio was clearly not 100%.
Who cares if it was 100%, as long as it’s gay friendly! Stoopid getto gays.
The menu has a drawing of a cute little piece of a$$ on the cover with a bulge in his pants. It’s definitely a gay bar
I came out at The Pub in 1975 (at age 19 with fake ID!). It was an important part of my history and why part of why I ended up back in Santa Barbara in 1996, so I really cherish those memories. I would love to see the video that was mentioned here, or hear about other people’s memories. Also, having lived in big cities where gay bars were generally VERY gay, I really appreciate that straight people feel comfortable coming to gay bars in Santa Barbara. It’s one of the things that I have always appreciated about this town. Even “back in the day”, my straight friends used to go to The Pub with me.
I frequented the Pub from the time it first opened as a beer bar, then as it emerged into a full bar with dance floor where I gyrated with bare hairy chest & strutted my stuff. There was the patio & the back bar, elbow to elbow on Sat. nights & often on Sundays there was a BBQ- one brought his own meat. Mother Jay was always there to offer encouragement. Many great memories, Doug.
Oh, man…the Pub was a blast. Ruben with his tamborine, the guy with the castanets and all the craziness that the 80′s brought. Fun times and I look back and wish I was 18 again….yes we snuck in but Mother Jay would promptly kick us out.
This just brought back a flood of memories. Ruben with his “Aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye!!, working long nights, and STILL maintaining his nursing career. And the BBQ’s. Remember when the back bar turned into a Piano Bar but was quickly shut down because of licensing? Or how convenient it was to just walk outside and *shazam*, there was a “bookstore”, complete with booths and cruising cars? I have to check out this new place. (Myself and Randy are planning on doing something with this tape online. Will keep you all posted.)
My previous reply was rejected, most likely because it lacked a Pub/Club Oasis reminiscence. (Drum roll): I hope that the new owner chose to honor the history of The Pub/Club Oasis by leaving the palm tree on the black wall. Has anyone considered a photo wall? I have hundreds which date from 1989-199? (a little foggy in the 90′s. When did Oasis close? I did brand the pool table after hours in ’95, but I have no subsequent memory of the place…) I can’t imagine what it must be like to hire dj’s for a booth once inhabited by David & Al. And again: Hey, skinny. I liked the photo. Are you still north of the border?
Your previous reply was not rejected – it is listed above. The first time you submit a post to this blog it must be manually confirmed which can take a few hours because I am not constantly tending to the blog.
I understand. Thank you.
In 1977, I was just 21, a student at UCSB and just beginning to come to terms with my sexuality. It was also the era of Saturday Night Fever and we were ready to put on our disco polyester. I first visited The Pub with mostly straight friends (one lesbian!) from a school volunteer program. We danced the night away but I was so scared to be seen in a gay bar. Now it is 2012 and I am considering moving back to Santa Barbara. I am no longer young or innocent, but will always remember the scary Pub as my first gay bar, and hope it is also a good place to make friends when I come home to SB again.
I remember Mother Jay. I also remember the $2 cover charge I think it was after 9:00 or 10:00 so I tried to get there early. Wally, are you still around?
I spent the summer of 1976 in Santa Barbara and went often to the old Pub. Met a lot of guys and had a lot of fun.