The Hideaway bar was first advertised in August 1976. The same tall and narrow graphic ad (shown to the right) appeared in the first issue of the "GLIB Guide" in that same month, while a different ad appeared in the August 1976 issue of the "GPU News".

That first/ August 7, 1976 issue of the local "GLIB Guide" describes the business as follows: "Two young guys, Mike and George, host cozy male rumpus room." The "Summer Brings New Bars" column in that same issue goes on to say that "Across the street from the Black Forest (bar and restaurant), the bar that was formerly the Descision (sp) was reopened by two young owners and renamed the Hideaway."

The same ad appeared in the GPU News issues of August 1976 through December 1976, and then disappeared. We have not located a single mention of the Hideaway or any other business in that location again, until the opening of the Mint II there in 1986. So it appears to have been open for only about six months. (The "Decision" bar, which used the same address, had a single advertisement in the April 1976 issue of GPU News, and appears to have lasted only about a month.)

(The Hideaway bar is listed in the Damron Guide for 1978, showing the long lag between actual existence until national gay guide listings catch up-- and as in this case, often long after a bar has closed.)

This location has been host to a long tradition of LGBT establishments. The first was apparently "Friendly's Bar" (1944-1947). It was operating as 'The Hustler' in the early 1970s, which may also have been somewhat gay friendly (additional research is needed). But its run as well-documented LGBT establishments really began when it was briefly opened as 'The Decision' in early 1976. Next it was Hideaway for the last six months of 1976, after which for a time no longer housed a gay business. Its string of housing LGBT businesses resumed with the relocated Mint Bar II/ Angelo's (1986-1991), followed by BJ's Mint Bar (1991-1993), Zippers (1993-1998), and finally Fluid in 1998-- which is still open in 2024.

More information about this business is welcomed from anyone who can contribute it.

Mention of new bar in 'Summer Brings New Bars' column (toward bottom of article) (GLIB Guide vol. 1, August 1, 1976)	This same Advertisement appeared monthly from August thru December, 1976 (GPU News, August 1976)