My other idea was given to me by B*** from the topless bars. B*** told me that he found a place that had ample parking, it looked like it used to be a bar (less remodeling to be done), just off a main thoroughfare, and about five minutes from a highway. Best of all...it was on Gay Street. Gave him the name also, The Gay Street Saloon. Arlington has a few gay bars and in nearby areas are some gay and lesbian bars, every single one of them is a dive. If you want a casual or upscale gay bar you need to drive about 30 minutes into Dallas or Fort Worth.
I was thinking that it's a bar so you need to do bar food, I'm a little disgusted with working with fryers so I was in a quandary. I'm talking to a brother of mine about this idea and he just cuts to the heart of the situation: don't have a fryer. He suggested serving tapas. I had no clue what tapas were so he gave me a simple explanation of them. He also suggested having a white wall with a continuous tape playing, Wizard of Oz, The Wiz or some other "gay culture" classic. I did research on tapas, they fit into my idea for bar food, something small to nibble on, if you're going to eat dinner there you can order more. The price point of the tapas would be small, if someone wanted to order a variety it wouldn't break the bank. I think sushi would go over just as well, unfortunately a sushi chef isn't cheap. The heaviest item on the menu would be a burger without fries, maybe some chips or vegetables. The biggest would be a salad; nothing fancy, just a basic caesar with steak, chicken or maybe some kind of fish or shrimp. A selection of deserts like strawberries with an amaretto cream sauce or cheesecake, nothing really difficult to make. It is a bar idea so alcohol would be a major part. That would be the easy part actually. Stock the basics and take a chance with the oddballs, look into the laws for infusions and possibly do some in the bar. Stick with the basic Red Bull for an energy drink with the addition of Bawls, all gay bars should sell Bawls just for the name alone.
I think that the main draw would be having a small stage to do contests (banana swallowing etc.), drag shows, possibly even live music, karaoke, or just a dj. Room for dancing, of course. A big unisex restroom. Quite possibly nonsmoking. Off duty police officers for parking lot security. You don't have much of a problem with gay bashers when someone with a badge is watching. I do believe that all businesses should "adopt" a cause, but they need to be savvy about it. Everyone would expect a gay bar to support gay rights, that doesn't get any notice though; I'm thinking that the the gay club should support COPS (Concerns of Police Survivors) or join up with BACA (Bikers Against Child Abuse). No one will bitch about supporting those two groups and the juxtaposition should almost guarantee extra news reporting.
Again, the reason why I didn't follow through with this: money. If someone wants to do it, go for it. I'm not going to ask for money but I would like acknowledgement. Or you could hire my consulting company. Either way and I would be happy.
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