There used to be this place in the Berry Hill community. It opened in 1978, closed about 16 years later. To describe what it was like to you, you’ll need to know the sense of community. You’ll need a mirror ball. You’ll need music. It was a gay club called Warehouse 28.
In the early days, Macon Kimbrough was a bartender and assistant manager.
“Bars are where gay people went to meet,” Macon said. “Oh, it’s absolutely shaped who I am.”
“It was a refuge for all of us,” added patron John Bridges.
“It was predominantly a dance bar,” said Joey Clay, who was once one of the DJs.
In the early 80s in Nashville, fitting in meant many gay people were not open about their lives.
“People didn’t know if they’d lose their jobs, lose their friends, their famlies wouldn’t agree,” John said.
“For a lot of people, that was the only place where they could go and meet other people like themselves and not feel so alone,” added Macon. “It’s our safe haven. You are not going to come in and make trouble.”