Founded in 1978 by Wally Thomas, Clementine’s began as a Levi/leather cruise bar—low-lit, coded, and essential at a time when spaces like it operated with a degree of discretion. Early on, it served as a crucial meeting point for the local gay community, offering both connection and continuity in an era when those spaces were limited.
By the mid-’80s, new ownership (Jim Briscoe, Garry Reed, and Jan Kelly) helped evolve the bar into something broader. Clementine’s grew into a multi-layered venue—still rooted in its origins, but expanding into a welcoming, high-energy club known for its friendly staff, popular patio, and legendary Sunday tea dances. It earned a reputation as the “Cheers” of gay bars in St. Louis—familiar, social, and built on the people who filled it.
Over time, it became part of the wider cultural fabric of the city, especially during Soulard’s Mardi Gras, when the crowd expanded and the lines between scenes blurred. Through all of it, Clementine’s remained a constant—adapting without losing its identity.
When it closed on September 28, 2014, the moment carried weight. It wasn’t just the end of a bar—it marked a shift, as longstanding physical spaces gave way to a more digital, dispersed social world. Even its final night carried legend, with figures like “Midnight Annie” woven into its story.
