The name was supposed to be the High Plains, since the original location was so close to Aurora, all his friends referred to it as being “out on the plains somewhere.”Ĭharlie’s wasn’t chosen as the official name until about a week before opening. Like how he named the bar for his then-boyfriend. King says get a few shots of tequila in him, and he’ll talk for hours about his bar. “Denver’s always been good to me,” King explains, “but once I got to Phoenix, I couldn’t quite get the motivation to go back to Denver.” King, who’s lived in Phoenix since that location opened, decided to set up the corporate office there.īut King didn’t move away from Denver because he didn’t like it, he moved away because he’s a warm-weather person.
By 1988, CHUN reversed its stance and welcomed the gay bar a little closer west on Colfax and Emerson.Ĭharlie’s expanded to its Phoenix location in 1984, and locations in Chicago and more recently Las Vegas have been incorporated since. (CHUN) was not ready to accept Charlie’s. They had tried to purchase the Golden Ox in 1985, but at that time, Capitol Hill United Neighborhood Inc. “We’d always been trying to move downtown,” King recalls. It stayed until 1989, when he was able to secure a spot closer to downtown. King opened up at a first location in Denver in 1981 on East Colfax between Trenton and Tamarac streets.
Founder John King, who’s currently based out of their Phoenix location, will be around throughout the week to commemorate three-and-a-half decades of his establishment. Kai Lee’s Kiki will also feature house queens like Alyssa Love, Mile High Pinky Pie, Venus Sexton and newcomer Khloe Katz along with other performers the queens invite to share the floor.īrendan Sullivan, general manager of Charlie’s Denver, said patrons should expect entertainment, specials, and quality service throughout the weekend. Armstrong will also be featured that evening along with Phoenix’s drag diva Pussy Le Hoot. Sunday night, as usual, will feature Kai Lee’s Kiki at 9:30pm, hosted weekly by Kai Lee Mykels.
PHOENIX GAY BAR CHARLIE FREE
Both nights will feature free drinks from 6–7pm with the headliners appearing right after in the parking lot. Herndon will be performing on Friday and Armstrong on Saturday. Their anniversary weekend, which kicks off Friday, June 3, plans to bring in headliners like out country singer Ty Herndon and comedian/singer Amy Armstrong. Charlie’s Denver is celebrating 35 years this June, and the quaint Colfax cowboy bar still prides itself on a down-home atmosphere with a touch of neon.