Julius’ bar in Greenwich Village, New York City located at 159 West Tenth street in a building that has been greeting people since 1840, first as a grocery store (Another name for a bar during that period.) and then, in 1864 as a bar. It was constructed in 1826 on the corner of Amos Street (West 10th) and Factory Street (Waverly Place). The bar has tables made from barrels stamped “Jacob Ruppert” a famous Yorkville, Manhattan brewery that opened in 1867.
During Prohbition it was a very popular speakeasy and, along with Nick’s at the corner of Seventh Avenue South and the nearby Village Vanguard, was frequented by many of the jazz and literary legends of the era. It began to attract a gay clientele in the 1950s and it is the oldest gay bar in New York City and the oldest bar in Greenwich Village.
There were two movies that were filmed in Julius’ bar New York City, one was Boys In The Band (1970) and the other was Next Stop Greenwich Village (1976).
On April 26, 1966, four homophile activists staged a “sip in” at Julius’ to challenge the New York State Liquor Authority’s regulation that stopped bars and restaurants from serving gay men and lesbians. Accompanied by five reporters, the group visited a number of bars until they were refused service at Julius’, a longtime Greenwich Village gay bar.
The night of the “Sip in” there was a sign in the window of Julius’ stating that “This is a raided premises” (After being raided just ten days before). Often the police would place an uniformed officer on the stool just inside the door and he would sit there until the trial.
Fast foward 44 years on October 11, 2010 a man entered Julius’ with the intent to assault and rob people. refusing to serve him, he took his anger out on an innocent customer, punching him while shouting anti-gay slurs. Suspect Fredrick Giunta 45 years old has been charged with a hate crime. This was the second event by the same person, having punched another bar patron in the face and taking his wallet at Ty’s another gay bar on Christopher Street earlier that same evening. As a LGBT community we can overcome these unhappy events, by showing our support for places like Julius’ Bar New York City.
Pete Sturman “Anal Anthem”, Courtesy of psturman7. Thank you