Winooski will become home to new gay bar

Despite its reputation as a liberal state, the first to grant legal recognition to same-sex couples, Vermont has no gay nightspots. That's about to change. The owners of Oak 45, an upscale wine bar in Winooski, announced Friday that they will close their doors next week for some renovation, and re-open next month as Mister Sister. The bar, on the Winooski traffic circle, will cater to LGBTQ customers but welcome everyone. In their post on Facebook, Oak 45's owners said the "LGBT community in Vermont has been missing a place to call its own. For many, a gay bar is an after-hours community center of sorts, it stretches far beyond the scope of drinking and dancing. I hope our loyal customers feel comfortable coming to our new bar." Within hours, the announcement had prompted dozens of positive comments on Facebook. Mister Sister opens March 10, owners said. The news comes eleven years after the closure of 135 Pearl, formerly Pearl's, the long-established gay bar in downtown Burlington.

Despite its reputation as a liberal state, the first to grant legal recognition to same-sex couples, Vermont has no gay nightspots.

That's about to change.

The owners of Oak 45, an upscale wine bar in Winooski, announced Friday that they will close their doors next week for some renovation, and re-open next month as Mister Sister.

The bar, on the Winooski traffic circle, will cater to LGBTQ customers but welcome everyone.

In their post on Facebook, Oak 45's owners said the "LGBT community in Vermont has been missing a place to call its own. For many, a gay bar is an after-hours community center of sorts, it stretches far beyond the scope of drinking and dancing. I hope our loyal customers feel comfortable coming to our new bar."

Within hours, the announcement had prompted dozens of positive comments on Facebook.

Mister Sister opens March 10, owners said.



The news comes eleven years after the closure of 135 Pearl, formerly Pearl's, the long-established gay bar in downtown Burlington.