In the spring of 2019, Big Bar announced its plans to expand into the vacant building next to it. Fast forward to ten years later, they’re now essentially quadrupling the space that they began with. Ten years ago today, on the Tuesday right before the Kentucky Derby, the tiny bar made its grand opening. And why go home, when you could go bigger? With Drag Race viewing parties, go-go dancers, karaoke, and DJs, the bar has had no lack of party hype. It may be a small space, but they’ve utilized every single inch to the fullest. With only 500 square feet of usable space, the bar has somehow managed to develop a solid, regular crowd as well as participating in and putting on several events. (I promise to limit the “big” puns, bare with me). Although the bar has been a safe space for several people over the years, it hasn’t been a very big space to frequent.
Some incredibly dramatic and traumatic (in a good way) things have gone down in the little 800 square foot building over the past 10 years.īig Bar has been a Bardstown Road staple for quite some time and has always played a huge role in supporting the LGBTQ+ community in Louisville. By Sophia Big Bar opened up on May 1, 2012, Kevin Bryan and Jim Lunger never imagined it would become one of the most popular watering holes in the region.