Why does Smith love Madonna so much? “Madonna for me was the person that made me feel comfortable with my sexuality when no one else did.”īack to Smith’s vision for Nathan’s Bar, Morales said when his friend of nearly a decade had in mind what he wanted to do, there was no question in his mind that Smith would make his dream come true. Nathan loves his Madonna.” Pictured from left, head bartender Lucas LukeBoi Luke, Nathan Paul Smith and Dasha Sweetwaters (i.e. In fact,, recently we had a whole Madonna night. You’ll see on the walls little signed autographs of over 100 pop icons in general. Each booth or living room is a different pop culture theme concept. (Photo by Jose Cassola)Īdded Randy Morales, 30, whose drag alter ego Dasha Sweetwaters is a door host and occasional kitchen assistant and waitress at Nathan’s Bar: “Nathan really loves pop culture. It’s all I know it’s pop culture, music and gay bars.” Madonna adorns the corner of Nathan’s Bar at the very entrance of the establishment. When asked why his bar is so heavily influenced by pop divas and pop culture in general, Smith replies: “Because pop culture is me. Smith said a living room area devoted to “The Brady Bunch” will soon be replaced by one dedicated to “The Golden Girls.” VIP parties at Nathan’s Bar top photo featuring former NSYNC singer, Lance Bass. The pop culture experience at Nathan’s Bar currently includes a “Stranger Things” VIP area and areas dedicated to “Will & Grace”, “Friends”, “The Big Bang Theory” and “The Real Housewives of Atlanta”, among others. Anybody can have a good time, it doesn’t matter who you are: straight, trans, gay, bi, lesbian,” said Alicea, who experienced Nathan’s Bar for the first time visiting from Orlando recently. I had to come and support it and it has become one of my favorite places to get together with friends”Īdded Danny Alicea, 26, a new customer and Orlando native: “The place is definitely super open and welcoming. When I first realized he opened this bar, it was really a no-brainer. Nathan also has so many other loyal customers at Twist like myself and now we’re all coming here. Staff is super friendly, drinks are great. “It’s always a good crowd, no matter which day of the week you come. I love that they have music playing lower at the beginning of the night so you can hear yourself talk with friends and then the music gets louder when you want to kick up your heels and dance,” Charria said.
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“I love the lounge-like vibe at Nathan’s Bar. A Miami Beach native for 11 years, Charria had been going to Twist for many years and he says Nathan’s Bar has become his new favorite place to hang out with friends or have a Happy Hour drink after a long, stressful day at work. Nathan’s regular Brian Charria, 28, started visiting the new bar about a year ago during the pandemic. The uniqueness and one-of-a-kind concept behind the small business landed Nathan’s Bar smack in the middle of a recent “Miami New Times” readers poll that named the establishment South Florida’s Best New Gay Bar. Upon entering this establishment, patrons of the bar are instantly greeted with wall images of pop divas like Madonna, Cher and Lady Gaga and pop culture stations or living room areas dedicated to popular American television serials, including “Friends”, “Stranger Things” and Bravo’s “Real Housewives” franchise.
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“Any other small business owner could’ve and likely would’ve failed, but not Nathan,” said Brianna “Bawdyy” Kane, 26, a self-identifying trans woman who uses she/her pronouns and is one of five rotating hostesses whom man the door and entrance to this pop culture themed bar at 1216 Washington Avenue on Miami Beach. Pop culture themed living areas at Nathan’s Bar. And one year later, business has done just that with the bar thriving and successful as ever even after COVID broke other small business owners and shut down similar establishments permanently. During the course of a challenging year, Smith remained optimistic and positive business would flourish. celebrates its one-year anniversary amid having opened when COVID-19 shut down many small businesses for good.
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This month, Nathan’s Bar - a gay bar that is heterosexual friendly and welcomes everyone who identifies as straight, gay, bisexual, transsexual, non-binary, etc. He just couldn’t ever imagine his lifelong dream would come to fruition in the middle of a pandemic. (Photo courtesy of Nathan Paul Smith)īy Jose Cassola Paul Smith always dreamed of opening his own pop culture-themed bar. Gay small business owner opens dream bar in middle of pandemic defies all odds to reach lifelong goal Nathan’s Bar owner Nathan Paul Smith and staff.
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Nathan’s Bar prepares for Miami Beach Pride and their one-year anniversary