History of Gay and Lesbian Life in Wisconsin - Businesses - Bars and Clubs

 
Ginger and
B-Side
Location: 235 S. 2nd Street, Milwaukee WI

Opened:
Closed:

Late 2008
2015
Clientele:

Female/ male
Bar/ social

 

 
 

This page outlines two LGBT businesses that occiupied this space in the 2000's.

The earliest but least known was B-Side, a bar of which we know almost nothing. We known only that the Miltown Kings held shows at B-Side starting in November 2004 and during 2005. An article mentions that B-Side was "located above Barossa" at the 235 S. 2nd Street address. We have found a few mentions in daily event listings, but no advertisements or other mentions of either B-Side or Barossa as being an LGBTQ establishment.

The space become more widely know again as Ginger. While we have found no advertisements in LGBT print media of the time, Ginger was widely known in the community. As a new bar, the Milwaukee Guerrilla Gay Bar organization held a popular "after-party" there in December 2008.

The first mention we find for it in local LGBTQ print media is in Quest magazine vol. 17-19 (November 2010) as "Ginger Tapas Bar", praising their "mix of shareable... tapas-style plates with something for vegetarians and omnivores alike". The article (below image) mentions that it was "one of JSOnline's Best New Restaurants of 2009". Again, we have found no advertisements in LGBT print media of the time, just a few mentions.

Over the years, this space was occupied by at least six LGBT businesses:

    Oregon House (1976-1978)
    Phoenix (1978-1993)
    Deja-Vu a lesbian bar (1993-1994)
    Dish a mixed lesbian/gay bar (1997-2003)
    B-Side a bar "above Barossa" used by Miltown Kings for events (2005)
    Ginger a mostly lesbian restaurant/ bar (approx. 2008-2011)

More information about these businesses are welcomed from anyone who can contribute it.


 

B-SIDE Bar
 





Article: Miltown Kings
(Q-Life vol. 1-05, April 2005)
 
Daily events columns, Sept. & Oct.
(Q-Life vol. 1-10 & 1-11, Sept-Oct. 2005)
 
Daily events column: Nov.
(Q-Life vol. 1-12, November 2005)
 

 

GINGER / Ginger Tapas Bar
 



Article: Community Center Membership Meeting
(Quest vol. 17-19, November 2010)
 
Daily events column: Nov. 19 TGIF party
(Wis Gazette vol. 2-01, November 2010)
 


Article:
(Quest vol. 22-03, March 2015)
 
Article:
(Quest vol. 22-03, March 2015)
 
 


View of the building, late 2006
 


View of the building, late 2006
(corner location at far left)
 


View of the building, late 2006
(corner location at far left)
 

Credits: web site concept, contents, design and arrangement by Don Schwamb.
Last updated: October-2024.

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