The bartenders at Keys

Somewhere back in the mid-to-late ’80s, Cleveland had a wonderful gay bar called Keys. It was the first gay bar I ever walked into, and I still remember how elegant it felt.

Keys was pure Art Deco. The bartenders wore crisp white shirts and bow ties. It felt sophisticated and grown-up, especially to a young gay man finding his way into the world.

This old photo popped up on Facebook today, and the nostalgia hit hard. It also got me thinking about how much I’d love a place like Keys today, built for gentlemen of a certain age.

Give me overstuffed sofas. Handsome bartenders who know how to take care of you. Soft piano music in the background. Drinks you linger over instead of pound down. A place where nobody is screaming over the music and you don’t have to check your coat because you never took one off.

Would a gay bar like Keys work today? Because I’m pretty sure I’d have a permanent seat.