Business Spotlight: The Menagerie


October 15, 2013 6:33 pm Published by

A beacon of the local LGBT community, The Menagerie recently celebrated 30 “FABULAUS” years in downtown Riverside on Valentine’s Day 2013. In the early 1980’s, Madeline Lee had many gay and lesbian neighbors who frequently attended parties that she threw. She hoped that one day she could open a bar.

Madeline leased a retail space on University Ave and opened The Menagerie on February 14, 1983. The Menagerie was a second home to the LGBT community. It offered cozy furniture, a pool table, and a wine and beer bar. During the AIDS crisis in the 1980’s, the LGBT community was able to rally and offer support to one another at The Menagerie while building lifelong friendships. It became a place where someone can be themselves without prejudice and judgment which was Madeline’s ultimate intent.

Madeline obtained a full liquor license in the late 1980’s and opened a restaurant. A few years later, the restaurant portion of The Menagerie was replaced with a dance club that hosted weekly karaoke. Annual events also took place at The Menagerie including Prom Night and Easter Bonnet Contests.

In the 1990’s, Madeline decided to add a bright neon sign. “When the sign came in though, it didn’t quite work right, so she ordered it again. Second try, still no luck. Finally on the third try, the sign worked — but it had one small problem: it was misspelled. Ms. Lee, in all her glorious wisdom (picture a dirty martini in one hand and a cigar in the other) said, “F*ck it, we’re keeping it!” and left it as is. So be sure and check out The Menagerie’s iconic “FABULAUS” sign when you come visit,” David St. Pierre states.

David St. Pierre purchased The Menagerie in June 1999 from Madeline. David remodeled The Menagerie by adding a circular bar, modernized dance floor, and nude paintings by local artist David Randers.

The Menagerie features ‘80s theme nights, karaoke Mondays, Drag Show Thursdays, and a King Drag Show every second Sunday.  Raven, who appeared on RuPaul’s Drag Race season 2 hosts “Snatch” at The Menagerie. The Menagerie has recently been awarded by Inland Empire Weekly the “Best Gay and Lesbian Bar in the Inland Empire.”

David St. Pierre also dedicated his time to a number of organizations and causes including the Mayor’s Celebration for Arts and Innovation, The City’s Fireball Run Finish Line Extravaganza, the Black Box Theater, and Totally Mt. Rubidoux. He currently serves as the president of the Mission Inn Foundation as well as a board member for the Riverside Downtown Partnership. David also serves as the Master of Ceremonies for the Destination STYLE Fashion Shows which promotes downtown Riverside as a Regional Fashion District.

David St. Pierre states “since its opening in 1983, The Menagerie has been proudly serving the LGBT community of Riverside, the Inland Empire and beyond. In fact, it remains the longest running bar on record in historic downtown Riverside.”

The Menagerie – “ALWAYS A PARTY NEVER A COVER”

3581 University Avenue
Riverside, Ca. 92501

951.788.8000

We are open 365 Days a year from 4 pm to 2 am

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