A rainbow-fronted new gay bar in Hell’s Kitchen has become a talking point before it’s even opened. PRIDE Bar x Lounge’s owners say its identity is meant to be unmistakable, while critics question whether the look feels too obvious. The debate reaches beyond one façade, touching on what queer nightlife should offer as LGBTQ+ venues continue to face pressure.
Essential Takeaways
- A bold exterior: PRIDE Bar x Lounge’s large rainbow flag and name have drawn jokes and criticism online.
- The owners’ response: Paul Fogarty and Andy Karlic say AI didn’t design the building, though a contractor used it for a promotional poster.
- A sizeable project: Community-board filings describe a proposed three-level venue at the former Boxer’s site.
- A wider concern: Reports on queer nightlife highlight the closures and financial strain affecting LGBTQ+ bars.
- Curiosity remains: Some critics say they may still visit once the bar opens.
A new gay bar, and a very visible first impression
PRIDE Bar x Lounge has attracted plenty of attention before serving its first drink. Its Hell’s Kitchen exterior, with a large rainbow flag across the second-floor windows and the word “PRIDE” on display, prompted social media users to mock its appearance as overly obvious and artificial.
The New York Times examined the row over whether the venue looks generic or simply makes its purpose clear. That distinction matters: a conspicuous LGBTQ+ identity can feel welcoming to some, while others want a gay bar to show more character than its theme.
What the owners say about the AI rumours
Owners Paul Fogarty and Andy Karlic have rejected claims that they’re straight, that private-equity money is behind the project, or that AI designed the building. Fogarty is gay and Karlic identifies as bisexual; they told the New York Times they’ve put nearly $5 million of their own money into renovating the former Boxer’s premises.
There is one wrinkle in the AI story. Fogarty said a contractor used AI to create a promotional poster, but not to design the building itself. The poster helped fuel the online debate, even as the owners insist that the physical venue is their own project.
What’s planned inside PRIDE Bar x Lounge?
Community-board filings reported by Meridian Capital Group describe a proposed venue at 742 Ninth Avenue, on the site formerly occupied by Boxer’s. Plans include a first floor, second floor and rooftop, with tables and bars across all three levels.
The proposed menu ranges from fried pickles, nachos and sliders to burgers, salads, chicken parmesan and fish and chips. Filings also list planned opening hours of 11am to 4am daily. These are plans on paper, though, rather than a guarantee of what the finished venue will offer.
Why the argument feels bigger than one bar
The debate lands at a difficult moment for queer nightlife. Them reports that LGBTQ+ bars across the US face financial pressures and closures, while also serving as places for social connection and community. Their cultural importance can’t, on its own, shield them from the economics of running a venue.
New York’s scene is changing, too. OUT NYC’s guide notes that several queer establishments have closed since the beginning of 2025, and Time Out New York reported that The Rosemont in East Williamsburg appeared to have shut after nearly a decade. Against that backdrop, a new gay bar can feel like welcome news and still invite questions about what kind of space it will be.
Will the critics come through the door?
Some of PRIDE’s sceptics say they’re curious enough to visit when it opens. That’s a useful reminder that online mockery doesn’t necessarily settle the question; for a bar, the experience inside may matter more than the first impression from the pavement.
The owners want the venue’s identity to be plain to see. Critics are asking for more individuality. Both positions point to the same underlying hope: that a new queer space will give people a reason to come back.
A loud exterior has started the conversation; the bar itself will have to carry it on.
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