Grand central gay bar baltimore
“In 1976, we actually had a gentleman named Colonel White who had a booth in the corner,” he says. With over 21 years of experience working at the Owl Bar, Schneider has plenty of history of his own to talk about, and there are plenty of stories to go along. It was a system that managed to carry the Bar through Prohibition and straight to present day Baltimore, where it continues to serve regulars and new arrivals every day. If the shipment had not been recovered or the police were somewhere on hand, the owl remained motionless.
Grand central gay bar baltimore code#
The code Schneider is trying to remember is as follows: whenever liquor had been successfully received by the bar and officials were nowhere to be found, the owl blinked. “I don’t necessarily remember which way the eyes had to go for the owls, whether they were blinking or not blinking, but back in Prohibition, depending on the way the eyes on the owls were going, you could either get alcohol or not get alcohol, but you didn’t speak about alcohol,” Schneider says. The signature owl statue that had become a classic feature of the bar became more than just an ornament–it turned into a spy. And then, with the new laws banning liquor sales, the Owl Bar, just like all others in the U.S., faced closure. Right up until prohibition, in fact, the Bar consistently drew customers. The Owl Bar was introduced to Baltimore as part of the new Belvedere Hotel in 1903, and instantly became a hit with the local male crowd. “It’s not the typical setting that you would see,” says Dena Glisan, 32, a waitress who has worked at the Owl Bar since January.įormer Owl Bar general manager and current building manager of the Belvedere Hotel Bill Schneider says that uniqueness comes from its history. Over time, the Bar has evolved into not just a landmark, but a major part of Baltimore culture and the ever-growing LGBT community. The atmosphere of good food, friendly people, and quality service makes the Bar more than just the usual hangout.
![grand central gay bar baltimore grand central gay bar baltimore](https://cdn.gaystarnews.com/uploads/2020/09/2022-N-Charles-St-Baltimore-Eagle_bar.jpg)
But the Bar isn’t just famous for its liquor (though the unique flavors of beer–Peanut Butter beer, for example–certainly keeps the revenue flowing). It’s not just an average bar. From the history to the clientele, nothing about this former speakeasy can be called ordinary.ĭeep in the heart of mid-town Baltimore, resting comfortably inside the grandiose Belvedere Hotel, lies the Owl Bar, a popular attraction for anyone and everyone looking to have a good time. The Owl Bar remains a historic haunt for Baltimoreans both young and old.