History of Gay and Lesbian Life in Wisconsin - Businesses - Bars and Clubs

 
Scooters
Location: 411 Galloway St., Eau Claire

Opened:
Closed:

 January 3, 1997
still open August 2022
Clientele:

Male/ Female
Bar/ Social/ Dance/ Drag
 
       
 

Scooters opened in Eau Claire on January 3, 1997, under the ownership of Wayne Marek, who was the owner of another operating LGBT bar a block away, Trading Company. The business location had previously been open first as nights-only gay bar The Back Door (1991-1992) and then Scruples (1992-1996).

The first months of advertisements for 'Scooters' shared ad space with The Trading Company ads, in at least one case calling it a "sister bar".

In December 1997, the bar had "new owners Jody & Dave", and ads no longer mentioned the Trading Company. The new owners held a Grand Opening on Friday February 6, 1998.

Our understanding in mid-2022 is that Jody Kvapil and David Beranek are both still business partners in the bar as it celebrates 25 years in business serving the LGBT community-- one of the 8 oldest LGBT bars in the state.

Bar Lights and Dance Floor (from their web site, early 2021)
 

 

Drag Shows
(from their web site, early 2021)
 

 

Advertisement for opening
(Quest vol. 3 #24 - Dec. 1996)
 
Article about Scooters opening
(Quest vol. 3 #24 - Dec. 1996)
 
Advertisement: Super Bowl Party
(Quest vol. 3 #26 - Jan. 1997)
 

Advertisement
(Quest vol. 4 #2 - March 1997)
 
Advertisement:
Christmas and New Years
(Quest vol. 4 #23 - Dec. 1997)
 
Advertisement: Super Bowl Bash
(Quest vol. 4 #24 - Jan. 1998)
 

Calendar for grand Opening Month
(Quest vol. 5 #1 - Feb. 1998)
 
Photos from inside the bar
(Quest vol. 6 #5 - April 1999)
 

'Drag It Out of Me' column:
Mr. & Miss Eau Claire contest:
(Ms. E.C. is B.B. Fox)
(Quest vol. 7 #12 - July 2000)
 

Several small advertisements in relatively new G-Street magazine
(G-Street vol. 1-07, January 2001)
 

Several small advertisements in relatively new G-Street magazine
(G-Street vol. 1-12, June 2001)
 
Several small advertisements in relatively new G-Street magazine
(G-Street vol. 2-02, August 2001)
 

Images from web site
(Dec 2006)
 

 

Central Wis. Pride with various events at Scooters
(Quest vol. 14-12, August 2007)
 

Ad for WERK Pride Month celebration
(bar's Facebook page, June 2022)
 
Ad for Drag Bingo onm Tuesdays
(bar's Facebook page, August 2022)
 

Central Wis. Pride flyer
(bar's Facebook page, June 2022)
 
Central Wis. Pride events
(bar's Facebook page, June 2022)
 
 


Exterior c2019
(Google images)
 




Photos from inside the bar
(from the bar's website, early 2021)
 

Credits: web site concept, content and design by Don Schwamb.
Information on Eau Claire bars contributed by V.K..
Last updated: August-2022.

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