Owners will open a new LGBTQ+ bar in Albuquerque’s Nob Hill next weekend, saying growing demand for queer gathering spaces inspired the project.
Owners Lucas Romero and Luke Rogers said Albuquerque currently has two gay bars and one gay nightclub — fewer than the city once had and fewer than many metropolitan areas of similar size.
“We put a lot of love and effort into this space and put a lot of love and effort into the community,” Romero said. “When you bring those two things together, I think we have something really special for Albuquerque.”
The idea for the bar stems from community gatherings the pair began organizing after the COVID-19 pandemic. “Coming out of COVID, we realized that there was an opportunity or a need for people in the queer community to have a space,” Rogers said. “So we hosted this mixer. We called it Friends of Dorothy.”
The quarterly mixers, held at different bars throughout Albuquerque, eventually attracted nearly 400 attendees, convincing the owners of a bigger demand for a permanent LGBTQ+ venue. “We were like, ‘Well, hold on. Is this our proof of concept for possibly a gay bar?'” Romero said.
The couple found a former Albuquerque Distilling location on Central Avenue early last year. They transformed the place into a bar and lounge and also leased the neighboring suite to create a dance floor and event space.
Romero and Rogers said the project has generated interest beyond New Mexico through its online presence. But their main focus remains serving the local community. “To many of us in the gay community, having a gay bar or a strong queer culture is really important,” Rogers said.
The venue will hold a soft opening this weekend to test equipment and prepare staff before it officially opens to the public next weekend.
