Five years ago, during the thick of the pandemic, H.G. Roosters caught fire and had to permanently close its legendary doors. Until now.
The bar is now officially reopened for business after a ribbon cutting held on May 19. It is hard to think it has been half a decade since the bar opened. Judging by the support from the community, Roosters, which is the oldest gay bar in South Florida, was greatly missed.
“It only took a global pandemic, a five-year construction marathon, and a few emotional support cocktails [laughs], I mean groups, to get us to this moment,” said Julie Seaver, CEO of Compass Community Center. “Roosters has been more than just a bar –– it has been a place of refuge when the world has felt heavy.”
Seaver said Roosters was a “lifeline” for the community during the AIDS epidemic, much like Compass is now.
Several community members and special guests showed up for the reopening of the bar, including Seaver, West Palm Beach City Commission President Christina Lambert, Palm Beach County Commissioner Gregg Weiss, Roosters co-owner Randy Christensen, and West Palm Beach Commissioner Kelly Shoaf. Among the prominent figures were a host of proud patrons new and old.
As soon as the ribbon was cut, guests were invited into the new bar. Many were impressed with the decor and new additions like a bigger bar area, the fabulous patio area with no smoking/vaping and tons of flat screen televisions.
“I was not expecting this,” said West Palm resident Dante Hampton. “I can’t wait to see what vibe the new bar brings and what new memories can be made. This is a good day for the city of West Palm.”
The bar debuted a new drink called “My Apartment,” which has gin, St-Germain, lemon juice, and club soda. The tasty drink is served with a lemon slice and is a tribute to the “Private Key Club,” which occupied the space before Roosters. It was a safe space for lesbians from 1968 through 1973.
When co-owner A.J. Wassom’s best friend Bill Capozzi, who opened Roosters in 1984, contracted pancreatic cancer in 2005, Capozzi sold the business to Wassom.
“A lot of people wanted to buy it from them, but he sold it to me because he said that ‘I got it,’ Wassom said. “Roosters was more than just a business to me, and he understood that. So thank you, Bill. I’m so happy to be here today and to have so many people show up is mind-blowing.”
Roosters is open from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
