Rise and shine — H.G. Roosters will reopen its doors on May 19.

The opening comes five years to the day when the LGBTQ bar was destroyed due to a devastating fire caused by oily rags that spontaneously combusted.

The fire occurred two months after the pandemic closed most of the state’s businesses, but management kept employees working during the shutdown to help them sustain a reliable income.

Owner AJ Wasson said the journey to reopening has been filled with hardships and uncertainty, but he’s proud the bar can return as a staple for the local community.

“It’s been a very long road to get to this point, but we could not be more thrilled to welcome our long-time customers and new friends home,” Wasson said. “We are very proud of what we have rebuilt and look forward to once again being a part of the thriving West Palm Beach community.”

Originally opened in 1984, Roosters is the state’s longest-serving LGBTQ bar. It opened during the height of the AIDS pandemic, and provided a safe and comforting space for the community during uncertain times.

In 2021, the West Palm Beach City Commission designated Roosters as historic — one of only three gay bars in the nation to receive the honor at the time.

West Palm Beach City Commissioner Christina Lambert will officiate the ribbon cutting ceremony, which takes place at 5:30 p.m. on May 19. Roosters is located at 823 Belvedere Rd.

“Roosters has meant so much to this community for so many years — seeing it come back to life is truly a cause for celebration,” Lambert said.

Julie Seaver, CEO of Compass Community Center, said Roosters’ storied history makes its reopening that much more special.

“Roosters has held us through heartbreak and hardship, witnessed the spark of new love, and given us a place to grieve and remember those we’ve lost,” Seaver said. “Its walls carry our laughter, our tears, and our history. To see its doors open again is to feel a piece of ourselves come home.”