Bars, Restaurants, & Taverns

SILVERDO

Silverado: Previously known as Flossie's, this lovably racy bar and strip club has been part of Portland gay nightlife for many years and welcomes mixed crowds. The bar in Old Town Chinatown has two sections. In the nightclub, hunky male strippers dance fully naked—or, if you are looking for a quieter area, head to the lounge for a video bar, a pool table, and a full kitchen.

Per Wikipedia: Silverado is the Pacific Northwest’s oldest male strip club. At the entrance there is a sign that reads, "If you're here, you're queer", informing heterosexual men that they "aren't welcome". https://www.portlandmercury.com/BlogtownPDX/archives/2012/03/22/silverados-take-on-inequal-entry-fees

In the Oregon Gay News – City Week, April 13, 1988, An ad appears, page 8, OPEN FRIDAY, APRIL 15 SILVERADO – for a Honkin Tonkin good time… [This must have been the date the name changed to Silverado] [ad not included]

Ad Below Left is from the Just Out Pocket Book June 1988 Page 14 ”Silverado”. Below Right, ad in the Oregon Gay News July 21, 1988.

Then, almost ten years later on March 31, 2018 lost its lease but by December it relocated to 610 Northwest Couch Street, in the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood.

In his 2019 "overview of Portland's LGBTQ+ nightlife for the newcomer", Andrew Jankowski of the Portland Mercury wrote: "The Pacific Northwest's longest-operating male strip club moved last winter, setting up shop next to the Star Theater in a former sports bar. It doesn't look like much on the surface, because the real party is in the basement. There aren't as many poles as the previous location, but there's no shortage of sexy male dancers.”

Below Left is an ad in 1989 La Femme Program. Below Right is an ad in the 2003 Aug 23 Mr. Gay Pageant Program.

Exterior photo at 1217 SW Stark Street

1217 SW Stark Street

  [see in Pied Piper/Red Garter/Riddles/Stark Street Station/Flossies/Silverado] 

The Pied Piper 1217 SW Stark Street  1968 -1971 or 1974(?)

Red Garter 1974 – not gay

Oil Can Harrys – 1975 – unknown

Riddles 1975-1978 NOT GAY

Kachina Lounge 1979-1981

Bushes – 1981-1982

Stark Street Station 1982

Flossies – 1982-88

Silverado – 1988 – 2007 [moved]

Silverado – 318 SW 3rd [took over Wilde Oscar’s space] 2007-2018

Silverado – 610 NW Couch [took over Casey’s space]  2018-present

2003 Chuck Palahniuk mentioned Silverado in his book Fugitives and Refugees on page 24 under Talk the Talk: A Portland Vocabulary Lesson – Silver Dildo – A nickmame for the Silverado bar, which features male strippers.

Below is an ad in the Portland’s 2005 Columbia FunMap.

Per Gallery 3 — The Umbrella Project (umbrellaprojectoregon.com) The Majestic Buiding was sold 2007 by Burnside West RPO LLC the building in its entirety from Continental Building Inc (Lawson & Nelson). and then in 2008 McMenamin’s was purchased in its entirety from Burnside West RPO LLC. Because of that Silverado had to move, which they did down to 3rd Ave.

318 SW 3rd [took over Wilde Oscar’s space] 2007-2018

Silverado 1217 SW Stark, 224-4493  website: https://www.silveradopdx.com/

Silverado appeals to my depraved sensibilities, with its dark, divey, auditorium-like space featuring porn films as a backdrop to strippers. The paid dancers may not be as hot as those at Three Sisters, but they're still giving it their all. On a typical evening at the Silverado, you'll find more straight folks in here, because guys will follow wild, dick-crazed ladies to the end of the earth. Silverado, beyond hosting one of the most diverse crowds, is one of the best choices if you're looking for someone to lay (oh, I mean love). https://www.portlandmercury.com/food/vaseline-alley/Content?oid=33869

YouTube video o Steven Sloan and Jawny Cakes at the SILVERADO strip club!! Part 1 Part 2

Per https://www.wweek.com/bars/2018/12/24/portlands-oldest-male-strip-club-is-moving-into-a-new-location-the-day-after-christmas/ By Andrew Jankowski

December 24, 2018, at 3:02 pm PST The Pacific Northwest's longest-running male strip club is finally moving to a new location.

Back in March, Silverado announced on its Facebook page that it would be leaving its Old Town location, at where it's existed since 2008. (It originally opened in the 1970s, in the building that currently houses the Crystal Hotel downtown, under the name Flossie's.)  Though patrons packed in on the weekend of March 31 for what was supposed to be the last weekend, Silverado stayed open through spring and into the fall.

On Dec. 20, the club announced that it would be moving to 611 (610 actually) NW Couch St. The first day open will be Thursday, Dec. 27.

"We were lucky enough to be able to stay in our current location this last year even though the lease had already been transferred to the new tenants," says Trevor Wion, Silverado's social media manager. "They had permits and planning to do, so us paying the lease for them helped us both out."

Wion says neighboring strip club the Golden Dragon will be expanding into their former building. Wion says Silverado has taken on extensive renovations for the building, including earthquake retrofitting, soundproofing, and new fire sprinklers.

Silverado's new location is next to Star Theater and across the street from Roseland Theater, and an easy walk to their direct competitor, Stag. The building has previously housed sports bars, including the recently closed gay bar Casey's.

Per https://www.wweek.com/bars/2018/12/24/portlands-oldest-male-strip-club-is-moving-into-a-new-location-the-day-after-christmas/ By Andrew Jankowski

December 24, 2018 at 3:02 pm PST The Pacific Northwest's longest-running male strip club is finally moving to a new location.

Back in March, Silverado announced on its Facebook page that it would be leaving its Old Town location, at where it's existed since 2008. (It originally opened in the 1970s, in the building that currently houses the Crystal Hotel downtown, under the name Flossie's.)  Though patrons packed in on the weekend of March 31 for what was supposed to be the last weekend, Silverado stayed open through spring and into the fall.

On Dec. 20, the club announced that it would be moving to 611 (610 actually) NW Couch St. The first day open will be Thursday, Dec. 27.

"We were lucky enough to be able to stay in our current location this last year even though the lease had already been transferred to the new tenants," says Trevor Wion, Silverado's social media manager. "They had permits and planning to do, so us paying the lease for them helped us both out."

Wion says neighboring strip club the Golden Dragon will be expanding into their former building. Wion says Silverado has taken on extensive renovations for the building, including earthquake retrofitting, soundproofing and new fire sprinklers.

Silverado's new location is next to Star Theater and across the street from Roseland Theater, and an easy walk to their direct competitor, Stag. The building has previously housed sports bars, including the recently closed gay bar Casey's.

Per https://queerintheworld.com/gay-portland-oregon-travel-guide/  Portland for almost 35 years now. Previously named Flossie’s, Silverado was originally located below one of Portland’s infamous bathhouses. Flourishing among many other gay bars and gay-owned businesses Silverado established itself as the premier gay men’s nightclub. In December 2018 Silverado moved to its new location closer to the renowned Portland Pearl District and Old Town with its nightlife. The new and modern location offers a lounge, nightclub, full kitchen, and easy access to public transport. The Silverado is essentially two bars under the same roof – The Night Club & The Lounge – allowing its customers options on their night out whether you want to dance the night away or enjoy a drink in a quiet, laid-back bar with modern twists. Open 365 days a year, from 9 am to 2:30 am, there’s always a party happening at the Silverado. Whether it’s the latest in dance music or the delicious collection of male entertainers, they have it all.

citations & references:

  • listed in Damron Road Atlas 1994 Under Bars

  • listed in Damron Address Book 1995 Under Bars

  • listed in Fodor’s Gay Guide to the Pacific Northwest 1997 Under Bars and Clubs

  • listed in Out & About Gay Travel Guide 1997 Under Play/Meet

  • listed in Ferrari Guides Men’s Travel 1999 Under Dance Clubs

  • listed in Damron’s Men’s Travel Guide 2000 Under Bars

  • As cited in Portland’s 2005 Columbia FunMap, Page 20, “Bars/Dance Clubs/Lounges/Piano.”

  • listed in Damron’s Men’s Travel Guide 2007 Under Bars

  • listed in Damron’s Men’s Travel Guide 2010 Under Bars

  • Photo by Another Believer

    Silverado: Previously known as Flossie's, this lovably racy bar and strip club has been part of Portland gay nightlife for many years and welcomes mixed crowds. The bar in Old Town Chinatown has two sections. In the nightclub, hunky male strippers dance fully naked—or, if you are looking for a quieter area, head to the lounge for a video bar, a pool table, and a full kitchen.

    Silverado 1217 SW Stark, 224-4493  website: https://www.silveradopdx.com/

    Silverado appeals to my depraved sensibilities, with its dark, divey, auditorium-like space featuring porn films as a backdrop to strippers. The paid dancers may not be as hot as those at Three Sisters, but they're still giving it their all. On a typical evening at the Silverado you'll find more straight folks in here, because guys will follow wild, dick-crazed ladies to the end of the earth. Silverado, beyond hosting one of the most diverse crowds, is one of the best choices if you're looking for someone to lay (oh, I mean love). VASELINE ALLEY - Portland Mercury