Fashion Police co-host George Kotsiopoulos, is teaming up with Circus of Books owner Rob Novinger and Fire Hot Yoga founder Stephanie Schestag, to open a new gay bar called Or Bar (“Or” meaning “Gold” in French) at the former Gold Coast space in West Hollywood.
“BREAKING NEWS!” Reads a post on George Kotsiopoulos’ official Instagram page. “I’ve been working on a few exciting projects during this loooong pandemic and here’s one I can finally announce: My friends and I are opening an LBGTQ bar in West Hollywood!!! We are super excited to create a cool, upscale space with back-to-basic drinks, GREAT music and chic peeps in this iconic location. Huge thanks to my friend @marcmalkin for the “official” announcment in @variety this week and 😘🥰😍 to my incredible partners @loveandlightsteph@robnovinger. Can’t wait to share more!”
Variety.com confirms that Kotsiopoulos is opening the Or Bar in the legendary WeHo space previously occupied by the Gold Coast bar, one of the oldest gay bars in West Hollywood. Gold Coast Bar closed for good in September 2020 after serving the community for 39 years. It became the fourth gay bar to close on Santa Monica Boulevard. The LGBT community lost Gym Bar, Flaming Saddles, and Rage Nightclub due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced all bars shut for over a year.
“In a nod to the former occupant, the new endeavor (Kotsiopoulos’ partners include Circus of Books owner Rob Novinger and Fire Hot Yoga founder Stephanie Schestag) will be called Or Bar,” reports Variety. “The opening isn’t slated for at least another six months.
“We don’t want gay bars to become obsolete,” Kotsiopoulos told Variety. “We’re passionate about making sure we still have safe places for community.”
Kotsiopoulos’ Instagram post shows him throwing a hammer and smashing one of the mirrors at the old Gold Coast Bar Space as part of the demolition, which began earlier last month.
George Kotsiopoulos Instagram screen grabOwner of the shuttered Faultline Bar, Ruby DeFresno (aka Ruby Nuno, Ruby DeFaultline), hinted that she was trying to get into the space and make the Gold Coast Bar space the new home to the Faultline, which closed last year. She posted a video on social media where a woman (presumably DeFresno) is using a crowbar to chip and tear out the Gold Coast Bar name located at the former bar’s parking lot. She vaguely suggested she was trying to pry the Gold Coast loose for the Faultline, but if there ever was any negotiation on a possible lease, we’ll probably never know. She never mentions the Gold Coast again after a backlash from the community who felt the video was tone deaf and in poor taste.
There was another rumor that NSYNC singer was Lance Bass is opening a bar at this location. That rumor can be laid to rest.
There is no liquor license to be found under the Or Bar name, or attached to the new business at the moment. Check back for updates on The Or Bar in West Hollywood.
Monte is going for the sure money. I’m not say she’s a gold digga but she ain’t going for no broke broke.
GREAT! Any updates on Fubar and Motherlode??
Those bars did not close due to the pandemic. They closed due to the sheer greed of Monte Overstreet, the owner that they all have in common.
Also thank god Ruby whats her face didn’t get the space. That would have been a disaster.
Chi Chi LaRue saves the day again. First Circus of Books and Now The Gold Coast. I wonder if any of these three ever went to the old watering hole. Why would they use the world “upscale”? That word is a areal dick repellent to the GC customers.