The community showed that they wanted Alibi to stay. “If you deserve it, and if people know you’re speaking the truth, they will come to your rescue. “You gotta ask for help sometimes,” Minko told Time Out New York. Luckily, the community wanted that as well, and it rushed to his aid. This uncertain future was one that Alibi Lounge, reportedly the only Black-owned gay bar in Manhattan, faced until a few passionate youth got involved. After it temporarily shut its doors, the bar was robbed and cash was taken from the register.īut for Minko, throughout all of the hardships, his goal has simply been to get the bar back up and running for the community. Days later, the bar had to be shut down due to the City’s coronavirus restrictions. In March of this year, Minko was attacked inside his bar by six strangers, which sent him to the hospital. Last year during Pride, two rainbow flags were burned outside the bar, though the community rallied around the establishment to ensure it was safe and could reinstate its flags. There’s even another one in the West Village that is very popular among black gays, but I won. The good news for Alibi comes after a string of much worse experiences. There ARE already gay bars in NYC in black neighborhoods with a predominantly black, gay clientele. “Not only are we proud to be a safe haven for the uptown Manhattan LGBTQ community, a vast majority of POC, but we are also committed to promote and provide employment, training, qualifications, for all young people in our neighborhood!” “Our missions are multiple,” Minko wrote on the GoFundMe page. As long as he has enough to reopen, rehire his staff, and make Alibi available for the Harlem and greater NYC community, that’s all he needs. Alibi suffered financially due to the pandemic and its temporary closure however, it’s since raised over $150,000.įor Minko, though, the fundraising isn’t about the number. Mon, May 02, 05:30 PM (Virtual) Dying To Make Partner: A Candid Discussion About Achievement Addiction Within The Legal Profession. The hiring comes on the heels of a successful fundraising effort via GoFundMe since May of this year. Mon, May 02, 11:00 AM (Virtual) A Comparative View of Appraisal Rights.
Now, just as Alibi has given back to the community through its existence, it’s hoping to give back in jobs. It’s fantastic news, considering many NYC bars had to shut down and lay off staff due to coronavirus shutting down the city. “We are hiring right now from within our community of POC LGBTQ,” noted a tweet from the company that was later reposted on its Instagram page. Great news! Harlem’s Alibi Lounge is hiring! Alibi is the only openly gay bar in Harlem as well as one of only two Black-owned gay bars in New York City (the other being Lamda Lounge, which opened only weeks ago).