Well this could get interesting…
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?
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