Gay bar in franklin park il

Sign up for our free newsletters to get your weekly news roundup, info on things to do in and around Forest Park and breaking news. Nutbush City Limits, a tavern that caters predominantly to gay men, will likely close its doors in late March or early April, according to longtime manager Mike Jimenez.

Fixture in gay community set to close

And some of the regulars at the Nutbush predate Jimenez, who started working there 18 years ago. Rod Nunley is the owner of the property at Franklin St. Nunley bought the site in August with the sole purpose of making an investment, he said, but is now losing money on the deal.

Nutbush owner Mike Zych is one of the original proprietors of the bar that gets its namesake from an old Tina Turner song. For years, Zych has paid rent to various property owners and then split the property taxes with the neighboring tenant. Zych also argues that Nunley overpaid for the property, and that sale price prompted an increase in the taxes.

For the time being, Nunley has granted the Nutbush until early spring. Once the bar closes though, Nunley said he really has no idea what might happen to bar site. Several prospects, including an unnamed developer, are being considered. He took ownership of that business in the early s, according to Nunley, but does not own the property.

The immediate neighborhood surrounding the Nutbush bears little resemblance to the changes that have swept the community in recent years. The linoleum tile floor is well scuffed and overhead, Mardi Gras beads hang from the drop ceiling. The space is small and occupied largely by a kidney-bean shaped bar.

Aside from a bright, multi-colored flag representing gay pride, there is little that makes the Nutbush stand out as a homosexual hangout. The Nutbush caters mostly to somethings and has survived on the patronage of its regulars, Jimenez said. Zych said he regrets not purchasing the property, but he never had the money to do so.

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