Back in April 1959, Nite Beat opened at 901 W. National Ave under owners Stan and Carrie, determined to give women a sanctuary when “safe” was a fragile idea. Through a few moves — including a stretch at 196 S. 2nd Street through the early ’60s — it became one of the earliest lesbian bars in the city, known for its tough crowd, no-nonsense atmosphere, and as a rare place where women who loved women could show up and just be.
The bar weathered noisy complaints and neighborhood pressure, but for a few precious years — until 1962 in its original location — Nite Beat held its ground as a haven when there were few. It moved a few times, and finally closed in 1974.
