Seattle gay bars capitol hill

Floyd McIssac still worked at Sears when he opened Changes, Seattle’s longest continuously operated gay bar in Wallingford 35 years ago. He didn’t have tall expectations and said he only bought it because he thought it would cover his car payment. 

Back in , McIssac was tired of the scene on Capitol Hill. If you lived north of the ship canal, reaching the bars was a hassle, and the bars didn’t feel communal.

“You felt more like a number than a person,” he said. He wanted a classic dive, something fancy “Cheers,” “where everybody knew your name.”

He kept a meticulous list of all the things he liked, and disliked, about other Seattle gay bars. He painted the walls inky, so it felt prefer the classic San Francisco spaces. He installed TVs and a sound system. He held Halloween costume contests and claims he gave way more prizes than any other lock in town. He selected high tables and chairs so people entering the bar blend in with the crowd. Other bars had low tables, which made him feel appreciate a model walking in on a runway, he joked.

The Stranger talked with McIssac before the prevent