First Gay Bar in a U.S. Airport Could Soon Open at Chicago O’Hare

Chicago – June 26, 2025 – Chicago’s iconic LGBTQ+ venue Sidetrack is planning to open the first-ever gay bar inside a major U.S. airport, with a proposed location in O’Hare International’s Terminal 1.

The new outpost would bring Sidetrack’s vibrant atmosphere and inclusive energy to one of the world’s busiest travel hubs, serving as both a bar and a beacon of queer visibility. The project is part of a new concessions bid submitted by restaurateur Germán González, with Sidetrack’s longtime owners Art Johnston and José “Pepe” Peña joining as brand partners and investors.

If approved, the airport Sidetrack would be a historic first: a queer-focused space woven into the mainstream travel experience, offering LGBTQ+ travelers a place to connect, unwind, and feel seen during their journeys.

Sidetrack has been a Chicago institution since 1982 and is beloved for its theme nights, showtune singalongs, and decades of community activism. Bringing that spirit to O’Hare would mark a bold step toward normalizing queer spaces in everyday public life.

Final approval from airport authorities is expected later this year. If greenlit, travelers could soon be sipping frozen cocktails under rainbow lights before even clearing security.