Donny’s Place & Leather Central – Pittsburgh Hoodie
Long before Pittsburgh’s gay scene found its modern rhythm, Donny’s Place and Leather Central held court as one of the city’s most important queer landmarks. Tucked into the North Shore nightlife grid, it was part bar, part leather hub, part “if these walls could talk…” institution. With its dark corners, strong pours, and a crowd that mixed steel-town grit with serious attitude, it became a gathering place for the community when safe spaces were few and far between.
More than just a bar, it played a key role in building Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ landscape—hosting events, connecting chosen families, and giving locals a place to explore identity, desire, and belonging long before the city openly embraced queer life. For generations of Pittsburgh boys (and the men who adored them), Donny’s Place was a rite of passage, a refuge, and a little bit of delicious trouble.
