For decades, The Interchange stood as one of Detroit’s most important gay bars — a true crossroads where leather men, disco kids, drag queens, punks, and regulars all found common ground. Operating from the 1970s into the early 2000s, it wasn’t just a nightlife stop; it was a social engine for a city whose queer community learned early how to build its own spaces and protect them.
The Interchange earned its name honestly. It was a meeting point — between scenes, generations, and identities — where the music shifted, the crowd evolved, and the door stayed open. Some nights leaned gritty and cruisy, others celebratory and loud, but the room always felt lived-in and real. In a Detroit defined by resilience, the Interchange reflected that same toughness and warmth.
