After being laid off from his job at a Fort Lauderdale nutritional supplement company, Doug Lemmone sought to pursue his dream and open a bar or lounge in Florida.
But the right location was elusive, and Lemmone moved back to Charlotte to care for his ailing mother. And he found what he thinks is the perfect spot for his bar in Charlotte, not Fort Lauderdale or South Beach. Cathode Azure,a 4,000-square-foot bar and lounge targeting gay and gay-friendly clientele, opened Friday in South End.
"I think it's going to establish South End as the 'gayborhood'," said Lemmone, a New York native. The area is up-and-coming, he said, with easy light rail access, plenty of parking, and a growing population living in the new apartment buildings nearby.
Featuring over-sized leather chairs, French doors leading to patio seating, blue LED lights and hanging lamps that give off a blue glow, Lemmone said he's going for an upscale, grown-up vibes. Although the bar features a dance floor, dancing isn't the focus, and Lemmone said the music selection is less dance and techno, more Top 100 hits.
The bar charges a $6 cover on busier nights, but also offers specials such as $2 well drinks on Wednesday nights to lure customers. And though Lemmone said he hopes to be the best gay bar in Charlotte, he also wants to attract a diverse clientele.
"We don't care who you are or what you're about," he said. "We welcome everybody."
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Wednesday, September 12, 2012
New gay bar opens in South End
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61 comments:
Why would this liberal kinky rag report on something like that in DNC Soddomville?
Do you report on straight peoples normal bars opening complete with map and writeup? Sickos
"Anonymous" = From the Greek for "willing to be as ignorant and small-minded as one can be, but not courageous enough to add one's name."
"Anonymous" = from the Greek for "(1) too cowardly to stand by one's opinions; (2) the comfort to be as narrow-minded as wants"
I think the articles here are meant to report on the opening of any new business that is remotely interesting. Another bar opening is not that interesting, but if it has a gimmick it is.
I don't know how many gay bars are in Charlotte, and my not knowing probably means they aren't that out in the open.
Since when is the gay community "tolerant"?
Why don't people understand that cover charges turn people away. If it is a lounge, then get rid of the cover charge. What do I get for my $6 and why would I pay for a yearly membership to a "lounge."
Makes no sense!! This isn't New York people!!
On this story they show you a map with a location to go to, but on the story for the Friday at 11 event for the new ball park they give you several streets to wander, hoping you will find it.
And I sure this new place in this story will be gayriffic.
Here we go again with someone coming in thinking we are New York City.
Why would you charge a cover for a "lounge?" If you want people to come and hang out and drink, then why turn them away with a ridiculous $6 cover?
This place will probably fizzle out once the newness is over, it has happened time and time again with new bars here in Charlotte that try to be more than they are.
Buford T Justice said it best....What in the hell is the world coming to?"
"Gayborhood"? Seriously? I'm going to Chick-Fil-A.
So it only took the first commentator to sound ignorant? How sad... Wake up, it's 2012, not 1952. I don't frequent gay bars, but wish Doug nothing but the best.
We need this business in Charlotte! Great news for all!!
Gay people are not going anywhere. They are here to stay. That's the way they were made. If you believe in God, he created everyone and everything. He must love them, too. As, according to your bible, he makes no mistakes. Evidently, he created you first poster. Ignorant and hateful. Unfortunately, God makes no mistakes and for some reason loves you, too. The Golden Rule should apply. Treat others how you'd want to be treated. If you like being treated hatefully, then so be it. Live and let live. Welcome to Charlotte and good luck. However, I don't agree with a $6 cover either.
Mitt, Paul and even Sarah Palin like to remind us that small business is the bedrock of this country.
Sounds classier than Hooters...
Why in the hell would gay people want a bar that plays Top 40? Good God, don't we already have enough of that with all the straight bars in town playing gangster rap? Gay bars that play better music than that trash is what is really needed. Charlotte will never be Atlanta, or any other city for that matter when it comes to gay nightlife.
Southend has done a lot to turn itself around, however, it's quite far from being Charlotte's 'Gayborhood'. Please see >> "PLAZA MIDWOOD" for further explanation on why they are proud owners of this title, which is no jeopardy of being given to Southend.
This area is known for police checkpoints. Beware.
I agree, I won't be going to a 'lounge' that plays rap and has a cover charge on top of that. No way.
There nees to be a few lounges for the older community. I go to Ashville when I want a gay night out and enjoy the culture of their city.
1. To "MW"...just because you don't know where the gay bars are, doesn't mean they aren't out in the open. Walk down the street or google them...they are easy to find and in pretty popular parts of southend and plaza midwood.
2. This section of the Observer routinely reports are various types of businesses. If they can run stories on mom & pop clothing boutiques with crappy clothes opening...why not report on a gay bar opening?
3. I'm not saying this bar is great or anything...but before you start bashing it, why not at least give it a try?
4. I do agree...get rid of the $6 cover charge. You're severely limiting your clientelle in Charlotte, especially when there are other gay bars that don't charge a cover...
Why the heck would someone pay a $6 cover in Southend on a normal weekend night? Only a gay person would. Oh yeah, that's his audience... It will take much more than this to turn South End into a gayborhood... That's the funniest thing I've heard this week.
Gay bar? I'm feeling excluded.
Perhaps I may open a heterosexual bar. Or a caucasian bar. Or maybe a taxpayer only bar.
Oh wait, that would be racist.
You might be gay, but it's a choice. God does love you. He loves everyone. It's ok for you to stay, but you need to get over the fact you were born that way. It's a choice, and somewhere in your misleading life, you opted to feel and believe you are gay. It's not for us to judge. In the end, God will sort us all out based on the scripture in the bible. You can manipulate the bible and your life style anyway you choose. It’s the way of today’s world. If you don’t like it, change it. You have one chance on this earth. If I were you, I’d get down on my hands and knees and repent.
1 John 1:9
Romans 6:23
I thought the "gayborhood" bit was a little much, but, other than that, more power to this cat, I hope he makes a go of it. Captialism now, Capitalism tomorrow, Capitalism forever!
If the $6 cover will discourage the posters of nasty from visiting Cathode Azure, then it will have served its purpose. By the way, Cathode Azure is a wonderful place and I wish it much success.
"We don't care who you are or what you're about," he said. "We welcome everybody."
He forgot to add 'We just want your money'.
So, is this over in the Atherton Market, near Luna?
I was born this way HEY!
I went in last Saturday and liked it a lot. It's right next to the light rail East station (under Pewter Rose) and had a good parking situation. I'm a bit of a music snob and while early in the night they stuck to top 100s, it got really good as the night progressed (also, 2 projection screens show music videos being mixed as the songs transition). I'm not big on the $6 cover on Fridays and Saturdays, but 316, Marigny, and Scorpio all have covers too. $2 well drinks on Wednesdays are going to be busy, no doubt.
To religious man. I'm not gay nor do I believe in your fairytale. It is not a choice anyone would make. It is who they are. It must be easy for you to judge according to your book and simple mind. Many people believe it is a choice but that has been proven wrong. Again, why would anyone want to choose that lifestyle. I know you're an angel and don't do anything wrong but your hate speach proves otherwise. Golden Rule. Live your life happily and try not to make anyone else's miserable.
Sorry, but I disagree. I was there and the music was not good. That's not what you want to hear at a gay bar. And just because those other places charge a cover, doesn't mean everyone has to. That's why I don't go to the ones you mentioned. $10 to get into Marigny? I don't think so.
I would like to go back to this bar, but the music will have to change. It really says something about the gay community here in Charlotte. They have bars that don't want to be labeled as gay, but then will want to take the title when it suits them.
To the person above who wanted to open a 'heterosexual bar': Why? There are too many in this town already. Just go on up to your Epicenter and you won't have to open one! Have fun on Charlotte's Jersey Shore!
"If the $6 cover will discourage the posters of nasty from visiting Cathode Azure, then it will have served its purpose".
That's a hell of a statement. Who are "the posters of nasty"?
Guess you want another pretentious dwelling for snobs and teenagers like just around the corner? Sigh.
Under the Pewter Rose in the parking lot of The Liberty. Can't miss the blue lights on the porch
Went by there but left after about 10 minutes. The music DOES NOT suit the target clientele.
I hate to say it, but the website I went to through the link above is pretty bad. If you are a new venue, why wouldn't you have a top notch website for your launch? Makes no sense.
The gay bar label is merely a suggestion. And you could open a straight bar- they're just labeled "bars". The point of a gay bar is to be surrounded by people with similarities. You go to a gay bar and hit on a person of the same sex, you're not wrong to assume that person is also gay. You go to a regular bar and do te same and you're probably wrong in your assumption. You do that to someone that's uncomfortable with his sexuality and you end up with another Matthew Shepard story- "he hit on me, so I killed him in self defense."
Come to the gay bar, we'll serve you just the same.
Up until 1973 these types of perversions were considered a mental illness and psychologists had better than a 50% cure rate and surprisingly the muslim word has zero of these types.
Obama erased all that when he homosexualized America and the military although many know him as a closet down low bi-sexual and looking out for his own kind. Thats why he chose the Queen City. Reports are long and numerous on Obamas closet side.
Obama refuses to talk about his own sexuality which is very odd considering his policies and making him a super hypocrite.
http://mainfo.blogspot.com/2010/05/latest-obama-bisexual-allegations.html
Wow, did Ely Potillo disable comments or is he just out for lunch, since he has to screen everything before he will let it go up on the page!!!
I wish them all the best and hope the ignorance shown in these comments isn't representative of the welcome they get overall. It's time for Charlotteans to become more accepting, particularly if we're ever to be viewed as a top tier city.
Where do these knuckle draggers come from? Are they always out during the day?
"Under the Pewter Rose in the parking lot of The Liberty. Can't miss the blue lights on the porch"
Or in the streets surrounding the place! Police trap!!!
Oh my God, now they are accusing the President of bisexuality! The Mitt worshippers are really sucking these days.
Charlotte needed a bar like this. Sometimes, we just want to dance to songs like they're played on the radio, and do so, well before midnight. I like the balance between lounge and dance club, when other bars tend to be exclusively one or the other.
Anon 12:09: Now you're just being silly. There are gay muslims. Claiming Obama is bi is just plain dumb. History is full of falsehoods. Slavery was also considered right, massacering a native people was also considered right. Women being second class citizens was also considered right. Killing Jews was also considered right. Now you're saying that psychologists/phychiatrists were considered right? That's been deemed wrong today as well. Good luck with thinking, period.
Charlotte's nightlife is really sad.
There is only one gay bar in Plaza Midwood that I know of, and it's on Central Avenue. The rest don't really want to be known as a gay bar and certainly we don't claim them as one. How can this area of town be a Gayborhood except for the people? Southend really isn't too different. Maybe 2, and this new place really isn't a gay bar.
Finally, somewhere decent for gay people to go to out in the community. The other gay bar in South End (the one in an old house) has terrible service and a stuck up staff. This new bar has a friendly atmosphere and a cool lounge environment, that is perfect for socializing and hanging out. It's a real welcoming experience!
Have you ever noticed that the most angry, bigoted, and misinformed people quote the Bible as the source of their "knowledge" and authority?
It doesn't sound all that different from angry violent people who quote the Quran as their authority to commit murder.
To the poster earlier wanting to dance to songs 'like they're played on the radio': maybe you should try that at home, like other TEENS! Gay bars and clubs are for something different, and a more graduated form of dance music.
Agree about the bar that's a house, that's really just for conceited gays. This new bar doesn't sound like a true gay bar, but maybe things will change.
Hopefully this bar will succeed but first they will have to do something about the thug music. That's not a gay bar!
PLEASE - Doug Lemmonese, hire someone to completely redo your website, for the love of God.
"This new bar has a friendly atmosphere and a cool lounge environment, that is perfect for socializing and hanging out".
I don't know of any gay people who lounge around and socialize to Eminem rap songs or Salt N Pepa / Jersey Shore scrap.
This is great for the community! We needed something new and exciting!
All of Charlotte's gay bars and clubs are run down. This is much needed as the city grows.
"All of Charlotte's gay bars and clubs are run down. This is much needed as the city grows"
So misinformed. No, it's that most of the Charlotte gays have no idea to support a true gay nightlife. Completely clueless compared to the likes of Atlanta and other cities.
By the way, the property this 'much needed' bar opened in is far from new, and has been many things over the years.
It is a lounge, not a gay bar. Lounges with largely bisexual and gay scenes are wild in cities such as DC, NYC, Boston, and Chicago. In fact, many heterosexuals go to gay lounges, including hipster heterosexual men. Charlotte needs to emulate cool Creative class cities like NYC and DC, not tired Atlanta.
Charlotte may try to emulate those cities, but it is not and will most likely never be them, especially with their nightlife.
Please re-read the article, it does say it's a gay bar, but I must agree, it's far from that. Especially when you are so vague about everything and try to cater to everyone and everything. That gushes "money grabbing" - as we've seen too much of here in the past.
Everywhere you look around Charlotte you could get hit in the face with a straight bar. There are tons of them. What's the harm in opening some more places that are just gay bars? Actual adult, money spending gay men would be much happier about that than more 'hipster lounges' catering to teenagers and everyone in general.
"Javier Martinez said...
not tired Atlanta."
Yeah! Of course! Charlotte is the capital of gay nightlife in the United States! No city could come close. They are all tired, but we can show them what it's all about! W - O - W
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