Owner of controversial PRIDE bar responds to criticism: “This is a gay bar. Do I have to hide it?”
Are people giving PRIDE Bar X Lounge too hard of a time?
Mark
The owners of New York City’s most controversial, yet to be opened gay bar would like to clear up a few misconceptions.
This fall, images of the new PRIDE Bar x Lounge being erected in Hell’s Kitchen have gone viral on social media–and drawn a charged reaction. A passerby named Sheeva Massoudi started the pile on when she remarked that the “PRIDE” space, complete with a giant rainbow flag covering every second story window, resembles a “looney tunes trap for gay people.”
Many others agreed with her assessment.
“It looks like it could become a Chipotle by next week,” somebody commented.
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Another person added that PRIDE gives off vibes that say, “How do you do fellow gays?”
We reported on the hub-hub last month and found an equally skeptical response–though some questioned why there was so much cynicism about a gay bar that hasn’t opened yet. This year alone, at least 23 gay bars have closed in the U.S. (Three more than when we last covered PRIDE on October 19.)
“Do we really need the negativity when it comes to gay spaces?” reads the post popular reply on the Queerty IG.
The owners, who recently spoke to the New York Times, are asking the same question.
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An “out and proud gay bar“
Originally slated for a Pride 2026 opening, PRIDE Bar x Lounge and its off-white facade has loomed over Hell’s Kitchen for months. NYC gays have filled the vacuum with gossip about the gayborhood’s latest addition, speculating that its owners are straight and funded by PE (private equity).
Worst of all, they’ve been accused of using AI for inspiration.
Speaking to the Times, for an article titled “Did AI make this gay bar?“, the bar’s owner-managers, Paul Fogarty and Andy Karlic, deny all the aforementioned accusations.
“It’s an out and proud gay bar,” said Fogarty, who’s gay. (His business partner, Karlic, identifies as bi.)
As HK residents and immigrants, Fogarty and Karlic say they’re living the American dream. They started renovating the carnivorous space, which used to house Boxer’s, in August 2025. They’ve spent just under $5 million, none of it from hedge funds.
“There’s a dream to be had, and I’m having it here,” added Fogarty.
As far as AI, Fogarty says it wasn’t used to design the building. But a company he contracted did use AI to create a promotional poster.
That poster, which advertises “club vibes” and “alternating drag performances,” is the subject of a viral IG post that hits at the PRIDE Bar x Lounge criticism.
Generational shifts
Put it simply: many gays find the idea of a rainbow flag-adorned “PRIDE” bar in 2026 to be cringe. That’s especially the case in Hell’s Kitchen, a neighborhood already full of bachelerotte-friendly spots.
To Bushwick resident David Brouillette, who poked fun at the AI poster on IG, a bar called “PRIDE” lacks soul.
“Remove the personality behind gay bars and you end up with this bar that’s themed after being gay,” he told the Times.
Meanwhile, Fogarty and Karlic say they want to make their intentions obvious. “This is the neighborhood where you don’t need to be in the closet,” said Fogarty.
As Gen Xers in their 50s, Fogarty and Karlic remember a time when gay nightlife was more concentrated and distinct. It’s a different experience today. NYC gays flow freely throughout the boroughs, shuffling between raves in deep Brooklyn to parties in Astoria.
Gen Z and millennials don’t view PRIDE bar as necessary. But yet, they can’t stop talking about it…
All publicity is good publicity?
The old adage may hold true. Even PRIDE’s detractors say they’re curious to check it out.
“People are going to go just to see when it opens, and if it’s fun, that might be good for them,” said Brouillette.
With aggressively rising costs and a stark downturn in 20-somethings going out, it’s rare to hear about a new gay bar opening–even in NYC. This year, New York has seen three gay bars close, including The Rosemont, a beloved dive in East Williamsburg.
PRIDE Bar x Lounge, of course, is not a dive bar. But it is a gay bar.
Whether that alone is cause for celebration is up for debate.
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