For four decades, Menjo’s was one of Detroit’s most iconic gay bars — a legendary dance club and cruising spot that helped define Midwest queer nightlife from the disco era through the 21st century. Opened in 1976 by entrepreneur Foster MacKenzie, Menjo’s became famous for its massive dance floor, high-energy crowds, and unapologetically sexy atmosphere.
It was the kind of place where leather, disco, house, pop, and pure Detroit attitude collided. Menjo’s welcomed everyone: club kids, leather men, drag queens, dancers, first-timers, and regulars who had been coming for decades. It was loud, sweaty, flirtatious, and proud — a room where freedom felt physical.
When Menjo’s closed in 2016, it marked the end of an era, not just for Detroit, but for a whole generation who learned how to go out, be seen, and belong under its lights.
