Ramrod (Iconic New York City Leather Bar/1973-1980)

Ramrod was Greenwich Village’s emblematic leather bar—raw, unapologetic, and alive from around 1973 until it closed in 1980. Nestled at 394‑396 West Street along the piers, it became a buzzing sanctuary for the leather and denim crowd, complete with bootblack stands and the pulse of 1970s subculture .

It was immortalized in the Village People’s “YMCA” video and featured in leather guides of the time—but its end came in tragedy. On November 19, 1980, a homophobic gunman opened fire with an Uzi outside the bar, killing two and injuring several others. The attack shook the community, prompting vigils and a reckoning with rising anti-gay violence. 

 

Ramrod never reopened. Its shuttered doors marked the end of an era—one marked by the golden age of queer leather subculture in NYC and overshadowed by grief. A tee tribute to Ramrod wears that memory proudly: it’s leather, history, resilience, and resistance all wrapped into one.

I use Bella + Canvas 3001 Unisex tees for all of my designs. They are a soft and light cotton. If you love another brand, please let me know and I can see if I can source it. I can also do my designs on tanks, long sleeve tees, sweatshirts, hoodies and posters. Just reach out with any custom requests and I'll gladly help you out. I do like large prints, but if you want the design scaled down, please contact me before placing an order and I can send you some mock ups.

Bella + Canvas 3001 UNISEX JERSEY SHORT SLEEVE TEE

Sizes:

Small: 18" chest/28" body length

Medium: 20" chest/29" body length

Large: 22" chest/30" body length

XL: 24" chest/31" body length

2XL: 26" chest/32" body length

3XL: 28" chest/33" body length.

Standard colors: 100% Airlume combed and ringspun cotton Fabric blends: Ash and Heather Prism colors - 99% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 1% polyester;

Heather colors - 52% cotton, 48% polyester;

Athletic Heather and Black Heather - 90% cotton, 10% polyester. .: Light fabric (4.2 oz/yd² (142 g/m²))