Well this could get interesting…
In this post:
Sidetrack Bar may open at Chicago O’Hare Airport
Chicago O’Hare Airport (ORD) Terminal 1 is currently undergoing an expansion project, which includes opening up new concession space. Sidetrack, one of Chicago’s longest running LGBTQ+ establishments, has just put in a bid to open a bar at the airport, as flagged by PYOK, and reported by the Chicago Tribune.
If approved, Chicago O’Hare would be the first airport in the United Stats to have a gay bar. The filing emphasized that the venue would be inclusive, and that everyone would be welcome, regardless of their orientation. As it’s explained, “at the end of the day, it’s going to be a beautiful bar.”
The proposal was submitted by restaurateur Germán González, who submitted the offer on behalf of Sidetrack’s co-owners, Art Johnston and José ‘Pepe’ Peña. The current Sidetrack location has been open since 1982, and takes up eight storefronts on North Halsted, in “Boys Town.”
Here’s how Sidetrack’s co-owner describes this decision:
“Pepe and I, we’re just blown away by the notion, knowing the number of people who pass through here every day who could see that there are (gay) bars here, where the people there don’t have horns and tails, and we’re not trying to steal anybody’s children. We’re trying to live our lives and make life better for all of us. And O’Hare is, we think, a perfect next step in that direction.”
Applications for new concessions closed on June 20, 2025, but it could be several months until a selection is made, and we’ll see if this gets approved.
Hey, this is a unique concession concept!
It’s not often that we see much creativity when it comes to airport concessions, so I like the idea behind this. We’ve seen some airports increasingly try to feature local businesses, and I think this would be a cool extension of this. I guess this would be a nice alternative to Torta Frontera…
I can’t help but kind of chuckle at the thought of a gay bar at an airport. I imagine it would be a little tamer than your typical non-airport gay bar. But assuming the bar follows all the same regulations as other concessions when it comes to serving alcohol and making sure people aren’t intoxicated, I don’t see anything wrong with this.
I suppose some people might argue that airports already have gay bars, and they’re known as airport lounges. At least that’s what a story last year about “Delta gays” suggests.
Bottom line
A famous Chicago gay bar has submitted a proposal to open a location at O’Hare Terminal 1, which would make it the country’s first gay bar. While I’m not much of a bar person (gay or straight), I like the concept of highlighting unique local options with airport concessions, and I could see this being pretty popular.
What do you make of a potential gay bar at O’Hare Airport?
'If approved, Chicago O’Hare would be the first airport in the United Stats to have a gay bar. '
I would imagine probably the first in the WORLD? Well according to ChatGPT anyway. Although I do love that when searching 'do any airports have gay bars it replies 'no...but some have joked that airport lounges (like the Delta Sky Club) are de facto "gay bars," In my experience (as a gay man) VERY true lol
There's a bottom line but no top line???
Ben - I know you don't like to go to Gay Bars - so you may not be the target customer. Sidetracks in Boy's town is likely 50% straight these days. Most Gay Bars aren't gay anymore - I would say over 50% of customers are not gay - groups of girls, young straight couples, etc. You would need to go to an Eagle bar to get a majority gay clientele.
But that said...
Ben - I know you don't like to go to Gay Bars - so you may not be the target customer. Sidetracks in Boy's town is likely 50% straight these days. Most Gay Bars aren't gay anymore - I would say over 50% of customers are not gay - groups of girls, young straight couples, etc. You would need to go to an Eagle bar to get a majority gay clientele.
But that said - I think this can be a big success - you get customers that don't know it is gay - but it is crowded, you get trendy straight crowd that goes to gay bars (which is most young people now) and then you get the draw of gay guys connecting or even arriving. If they are staying at an airport hotel that night - maybe they can find a date for the night. Think "Up in the Air" movie with George Clooney - he went to hotel bar and picked up a woman.
@Randy - OMG, your post just reminded me of something. For GAWD's sake, I can see it now - this place will be overrun by loud, obnoxious bachelorettes on their way to some bachelerette party destination. UGGGGHHHHH!!!! No thanks, I'll got to the TGIFriday's or Chili's bar instead!!
Yeah, great.
How about a food and beverage outlet that doesn’t cater to the <5 percent freakshow population. Where someone can sit down with their family and have a beer, or not.
The same morons that come up with this idiocy piss and moan about Shit-Fil-A getting airports contracts. Same thing: if you aren’t going to be open 7 days a week and publicly discriminate, you don’t deserve the contract.
One bar would probably take up less than 5% of the total space available to concessionaires in ORD, so even if your numbers are right, seems like that shouldn’t be an issue.
More than 10% of people fall into the LGBTQIA+ categories, seems like smart business to cater for a niche that big. (Especially when I could go in and be sheltered from knuckle dragging bigots, it’s a bigger market than that).
I hope they stir a good gin martini as that’s always hard to find in the airport.
Cin Cin
Oh shut up you hateful bigot.
Settle down, histrionical homo
I don’t know what the current vibe is like at their original bar but I think it’s a fun idea that can highlight the typical energy you get at a gay bar than just a pub - pop music, unique cocktails, sassy bar tenders, maybe drag queens. I know that’s stereotyping a lot of gay bars and their not all like that but seems like a fun way to add a unique airport bar experience that you could just happen to also call it a “gay bar”
Sidetrack is on Halsted street, not "Halstead". It's also no longer called Boystown. The woke mob declared it sounded non inclusive, so they just renamed the gayborhood "North Halsted" (Lame). Sidetrack, fyi is arguably the nicest and most popular gay bar in America.
Shame, Lucky.
You had a great opening for:
YOU! I WANNA TAKE YOU TO AN *AIRPORT*! WITH A GAY BAR GAY BAR GAY BAR!
This is actually a really fun idea and fits in nicely with ORD’s efforts to highlight local institutions with its concessionaires. From a marketing perspective, not only do LGBT travelers make up a disproportionate share of the market, but it will likely be different enough to make some travelers to go out of their way to seek it out when flying through ORD.
For everyone else who just posts up at the closest bar to...
This is actually a really fun idea and fits in nicely with ORD’s efforts to highlight local institutions with its concessionaires. From a marketing perspective, not only do LGBT travelers make up a disproportionate share of the market, but it will likely be different enough to make some travelers to go out of their way to seek it out when flying through ORD.
For everyone else who just posts up at the closest bar to their gate it will just mean more rainbows than a typical airport bar and possibly stronger drinks if they do “gay pours.”
Don’t worry darling, all other bars at the airport are straight bars.
From a numbers standpoint can it really be successful?
I hear when they run out of seats at this place they just flip a bar stool over and add 4 more.
Yeah, you “heard” lol
So innovative & considerate !
Will they have a dark room or we'll still need to go to the B gates stalls?
Dark room will be in the dungeon that is Terminal 2. Seems like a fitting place.
I think it's a great idea! Northalsted (Boystown) is such a fun, vibrant neighborhood and an integral part of Chicago culture. What better way to advertise that aspect of it? None of these bars/clubs are "exclusive" to the LGBT+ community, all are welcome. The sheer number of bachelorette parties you find there on any given weekend proves it. Nothing wrong with adding a little party atmosphere to an otherwise stressful/dreadful experience of slogging through TSA,...
I think it's a great idea! Northalsted (Boystown) is such a fun, vibrant neighborhood and an integral part of Chicago culture. What better way to advertise that aspect of it? None of these bars/clubs are "exclusive" to the LGBT+ community, all are welcome. The sheer number of bachelorette parties you find there on any given weekend proves it. Nothing wrong with adding a little party atmosphere to an otherwise stressful/dreadful experience of slogging through TSA, praying a flight isn't delayed, decompressing after the drive there, etc.
Taking over the world and all the airports soon.It would appeal to you but perhaps you need to be impartial.
Yeah Ben, be impartial.
(no clue)
Is your straightness so fragile that the thought of seeing this makes you this upset?
Why cater to fags? The other 97 percent have to eat too. Why feel the need to discriminate?
Even if this does happen, more than 97 percent of the concessionaire space at ORD will be not gay bars.
Also, Sidetrack doesn’t discriminate against anyone. No one would be forced to go there.
Finally, a place to call home at ORD…
But will they have the famous sidetracks slushies?!
Well, given prevailing stereotypes (cough, cough), a gay bar at an airport would have much better decor and much better food/beverage offerings than the typical airport dreck.
And that could attract the general public as customers :)
I mean, if it were a gay person's house or sense of style, maybe. Gay bars don't really have better or worse decor in my experience. And compared to some Chicago bars in River North, Sidetracks looks positively 80s or 90s, if even that modern
Interesting!
A gay bar with cruising areas?
Not sure I see the value prop of a 'gay bar' at an airport. If it is to cater to gay people, then most people would not be the target and thus avoid it. That doesn't seem to be good business. Do gay people feel marginalized while flying? I guess, if true, it might have a better chance to survive.
Seems like it is better to open a bar that happens to be owned by owners who happen to be gay and is inclusive.
Unless a restaurant is specifically themed as "Asian," a restaurant owned by an Asian person is not an Asian restaurant. It's a restaurant that happens to be owned by an Asian.
No disagreement. It was Lucky that said it was a Gay Bar, not a bar opened by owners that happen to be gay.
A large percentage of men who travel every day are gay (or, in your case, DL). This place will be a smashing success.
God you are a moron.
Your name says it all. Ding Dong.
I think you need to better understand the history of Sidetrack and what it represents in Chicago. It is the largest and most popular bar because it is inclusive. It is one of the bars frequented by LGBTQ friends and allies. Many people who do not identify as LGBTQ are there at any given moment.
It is known worldwide as being the epicenter of Chicago’s LGBTQ nightlife. They host community events. They give back. They are a model citizen.
ORD could do worse.
I don't live in Chicago nor do I know the owners of Sidetrack Bar but I have been to this bar several times while visiting Chicago. My impression is that it is one of the best-managed gay bars that I've ever been to, anywhere. It's always clean, great service and great bartenders with a very welcoming atmosphere.
@Miami305 - "Seems like it is better to open a bar that happens to be owned by owners who happen to be gay and is inclusive." I don't know of a single gay bar that isn't "inclusive" - if you've ever been to one, you will have seen plenty of straight women enjoying themselves, and probably a few straight men, too; many of the bartenders were likely straight men as well. Most LGBTQ+ establishments don't...
@Miami305 - "Seems like it is better to open a bar that happens to be owned by owners who happen to be gay and is inclusive." I don't know of a single gay bar that isn't "inclusive" - if you've ever been to one, you will have seen plenty of straight women enjoying themselves, and probably a few straight men, too; many of the bartenders were likely straight men as well. Most LGBTQ+ establishments don't have the luxury - nor the privilege - to exclude, despite their various theme nights or target audiences.
@Ralph4878 - Don't misunderstand my questions/comments. I hope they are very successful in whatever they choose to do.