![history of gay bars in san diego history of gay bars in san diego](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-q1p4-O5lcORB-w3TY6zNw1exQ0=/0x0:2687x1791/1200x900/filters:focal(1130x682:1558x1110)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59192573/1321190881.7.jpg)
By 1946, the restaurant and bar were both called The Garden of Allah, a popular name at the time. The Pickneys built an exotic restaurant and adjoining cocktail lounge they originally called The Egyptian Dining Room, which fit in with the Egyptian Revival architecture along that strip of Park Boulevard. Many establishments would not serve African Americans, Asians nor Filipinos, boldly stating on their menus “we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone…”Īfter being discharged as an aviation Chief Electrician’s Mate in 1955, Wilson A Pickney and his wife Margaret bought the vacant lot next door to their Egyptian Court Apartments in Hillcrest. At the time it was illegal for gay men to own businesses in San Diego. Both entrepreneurs catered to military clientele and their businesses soon became popular with San Diego’s segregated minorities and growing gay community. During the war, Joe Petrone even had interests in a tungsten mine near Tecate.īy 1945 Petrone was secretary/treasurer of the San Diego Tavern Owners Association, Johnnie Blackett was vice president. He had a hotplate in the office to prepare food quickly if the authorities showed up.Īt one time the Petrones had three restaurants open concurrently, and an office in the Spreckels Building. Some enterprising owners such as Tony ‘The Bomp’ Bompensiero (Gold Rail) tried to get around the ordinance. But if you had a hard liquor license, you had to serve food. Back then, a beer bar was not required to serve food. No idea where that lawsuit ended up, but the Petrones’ competitor later converted the Chi-Chi Club into a Pig’n Whistle restaurant.īy 1950, they weren’t serving food and got nailed for it by the State Board of Equalization. “The Pig’n Whistle organization, while changing the spelling,” reported a contemporary newspaper, “has not changed the pronunciation and is seeking to profit by the good will of the Broadway establishment.” The corporation was promoting the hell out of their similarly named club in 1947. They got a little sick and tired of all the hoopla surrounding Pig’n Whistle Corporation’s acquisition of the Chi-Chi Club, a dine-dance club downtown. The re-named Plaza Coffee Shop was successful and the Petrones expanded their business with a second restaurant ( Petrone’s) at 1240 Market, and a new nightclub and bar – the Chee-Chee Club. Further down Broadway by Santa Fe Depot was El Padre Fountain Lunch, an art deco aluminum-clad affair operated by Johnnie Blackett ( Silver Castle System, Made-Rite Barbecue, Copacabaña).Īfter a couple years Pratt was out and Joe brought in his brother James Petrone to run the business. DeLu closed his Vick’s Place in Tijuana, opened up the cafe in San Diego, and established Vick’s Distributing Company with all his Tijuana stockpiles of vintage wines from Marchetti vineyards. Down the street was Vick’s Cafe, established by Victor Delu and brother-in-law James Marchetti. That year around the corner on Third, The Tropic Cafe pre-tiki nightclub was opened by Jack Ewing ( Gay Nineties, Ewing’s on the Kern). Its bars, cafes, nightclubs and other mob-controlled businesses catered to navy men - straight and gay - with a fresh paycheck looking for a good time. Third Avenue was ‘Neon Row,’ the sailor’s entertainment district. Just within eyesight of Horton Plaza’s electric fountain. The little luncheonette was on the ground floor of the old Gates Hotel building, west of the US Grant Hotel Coffee Shop and Horton Plaza, at the corner of Third and Broadway. Its location on the main drag of Downtown San Diego had hosted several other restaurants including Randel’s Coffee Shop, one of the first places to legally serve beer after the end of Prohibition. Black & White Cab Company, 1937Around 1936-1937 Joe Petrone and his partner Charles A Pratt bought the troubled Plaza Fountain Lunch at 244 Broadway.