Shenanigans Bar & Grill in Superior

adam Aug 08, 2011 36 Comments

J.T.’s Bar in Superior is now called Shenanigans. Anyone have any info on this? Is it still a GLBT bar? Do they still have fish fry Fridays? Dance music?

(1506 N. Third St., Superior WI, 54880)

Recommended Links:


Random

36 Comments

moosetracks

about 13 years ago 

I have heard from a reasonable source that it is no longer a GLBT bar, but no first hand knowledge to back that up.

w

about 13 years ago 

Is that the place you like with all the shit on the walls?

edgeways

about 13 years ago 

Grandmas?

Shit on the walls is de rigueur it seems like ... unless you mean excrement ... in which case Grandma's might be the place as well.

Cara

about 13 years ago 

From the owner.  "It is not a gay bar, it is not a straight bar, it is an everybody bar, just like it has been for the past 15 years."

ironic1

about 13 years ago 

I've always wondered how it is that drinking establishments had sexual orientations.  Just as I've wondered how some buildings apparently have race (eg - "That's a black church.") or how some cultural events have gender (eg - "That's a chick flick.").  Strange world we live in.

blue

about 13 years ago 

Yeah, it's got all that goofy shit on the walls and the mozzarella sticks.  What's that place called?

Carla

about 13 years ago 

Go to Black Water or Aces with someone of your own sex and sit in an inconspicuous spot and have an intimate tete a tete - kiss a coupla times.  See what happens. This is a test.

jxndyk

about 13 years ago 

"Just like it has been for the last 15 years"  Hmmm...I am pretty sure it happily identified as a gay bar for 13 of those.  There seem to be new owners, but the staff is pretty much the same and the clientele is the same.  It hasn't been a hopping fun place to be in a long time.  That I know for sure.

Andrew O

about 13 years ago 

Blue -

"Oh, you mean Shenanigans?" - Super Troopers!

Great movie. I had to quote that scene when I drove by the place too.  Was that the name of the restaurant in Office Space too?

c-freak

about 13 years ago 

Ironic, I respect you immensely. I can give you a history lesson on why there were/are gay bars. Back in the day it was for safety. All organizing and politicking happened in the gay bar. Gay people met other gay people. Check out the film The Main by Julie Casper-Roth. It basically covers your exact question. With the times changing and the interwebs, gay bars are struggling, but there is still a need for them. Some folks have nowhere to go on the holidays. There's always a potluck at the Main Club!

For the record, I go anywhere I fucking care to, but it was a mere 10 years ago that two friends and I were jumped for being gay after leaving the Palace Bar on Tower. I also got attacked outside of J.T.'s by a lesbian about 5 years ago. There has been many times I've been unsafe and threatened. Not so much lately, but I pass for a man!

doubledutch

about 13 years ago 

Rather than a black church or a chick flick, maybe a better comparison is a black student union, or rock & roll summer camp for girls.  Does that make more sense, ironic1?  Because in your examples, you said, "That's a . . . " as in an outsider saying "that's theirs" rather than "this is ours" (at least that's how it sounded to me).  Establishing community seems like a pretty critical piece of demarginalization, but even aside from that, group identity - finding your people - is significant for basically everyone.

c-freak

about 13 years ago 

The documentary The Main will be showing at Zinema 2 for free on Art Night during Duluth Superior Pride Festival weekend. I believe it's Friday.

adam

about 13 years ago 

Chotchkie's.

dbrewing

about 13 years ago 

...an alligator wearing sunglasses? now I've seen 
everything...

BoB

about 13 years ago 

In order to enter, you must have a minimum of 15 pieces of flair.

Paul Lundgren

about 13 years ago 


The J.T.'s to Shenanigans changeover happened on July 1. The first names of the new owners are Jim and Jill. Beers are $2 all day on Tuesdays. They've had a few bands play there and want to book more. They are working on sealing a deal with a Garth Brooks impersonator. That's what I learned over one drink.

Tomasz

about 13 years ago 

@c-freak:  If someone jumped you, I'd hate to see the result.  :-D  I can only assume that they went home with more than bruised egos.

Love ya!!

Paul Lundgren

about 13 years ago 

By the way, the big bar news in Superior is that the Anchor has a deck now.


It kind of looks like I Photoshopped it in, so you'll have to see it to believe it.

greg cougar conley

about 13 years ago 

Word to the wise: Have your gay I.D. on you just in case it is a gay bar. Otherwise, they won't let you in.

adam

about 13 years ago 

And what about Lady Vi's? Is it remodeled, or is it just Lamplighter 2.0?

Paul Lundgren

about 13 years ago 


I haven't been inside Lady Vi's. How embarrassing to have to admit that so publicly.

Fitz

about 13 years ago 

Greg, what a silly thing to say.  You don't need a gay ID.  All you need to know is the secret gay handshake.

hbh1

about 13 years ago 

Though everyone has always thought of JTs as a gay bar, I remember clearly that when they first opened and I asked if it was a gay bar, the owners or someone who knew them told me essentially the same thing: "This bar is for everyone." There was some chatter that they were opposed to gaining an identity as a gay bar. Unsuccessfully, I guess.

Miles A Broadus

about 13 years ago 

Gay bars might be one of the few places one doesn't get that menacing local 'stink eye' treatment. You know, like with the dirty Bronson harmonica in the background. I like the idea of a bar that is for everyone, there's less exclusivity in a setting such as this. How are the burgers? Can't be any worse than the Anchor. Which brings me to this point, I want to commend the leadership of the Rex along these lines, and for tearing up that nasty carpet.  It's still a little musty, but now I know it's just cause it's the basement.

Erik

about 13 years ago 

Lady Vi's is under new ownership and they've been doing various updates over the past 6-8 months. The news owners are Norm & Vi. Nice people. The experience is pretty much what you'd expect, but with $2.00 beers and rails every night its hard to beat. They do a good job keeping the shenanigans down as well.

Rij

about 13 years ago 

If my memory serves me right, there was a place in downtown Duluth for awhile with the same name.  Maybe in the early eighties?  Does anyone else remember such a place?

MM

about 13 years ago 

JT's was a gay bar when I turned 21 ... and now I'm 25. You do the math.

(Maybe not "technically" but I got a lot of booty there.)

Paul Lundgren

about 13 years ago 


Before Shenanigans was J.T.'s, it was Johnny's Bar. 

Source: "Rawhide plays to tough crowd at Johnny's," Duluth News Tribune, November 1981.

Leah

about 13 years ago 

I am a straight patron that has been a regular customer at JT's since it opened back in 1996 and also during the transition from JT's to Shenanigans. Many things have changed, including some rearranging and a new stage for live music. You will have your faithful followers including gay and straight and I have seen many new faces and sexual orientation is irrelevant. The bar has always accepted everyone. No matter who you are, you are welcome to enjoy great music, awesome food and a friendly atmosphere. It should never be labelled.

Paul Lundgren

about 12 years ago 

Shenanigans is now for sale.

Paul Lundgren

about 12 years ago 

I noticed while driving by tonight that the former Shenanigans is now called the Whiskey Ward.

emmadogs

about 12 years ago 

The former "Shananigan's" probably went out of business due to the misspelling of the word shenanigans on the awning and incorrect use of the possessive apostrophe.  

Just sayin'.

Paul Lundgren

about 12 years ago 

Here's a shot of the Whiskey Ward.


Now for a shot in the Whiskey Ward ...

Paul Lundgren

about 11 years ago 

I have heard that the Whiskey Ward closed about two months ago. Anybody want to buy a bar?

Paul Lundgren

about 11 years ago 


Apparently Izzy Turner is planning a barbecue joint for this spot.

Paul Lundgren

about 10 years ago 

... and it opened Aug. 28.

Izzy Turner - Superior Telegram photo by Jed Carlson
Superior Telegram: Cooking comeback: Izzy Turner makes a return to the restaurant business in Superior

Leave a Comment

Only registered members can post a comment , Login / Register Here