Julius

About Julius

Julius is a living piece of New York City LGBTQ+ history and a beloved gay bar in Greenwich Village. Built in 1826 at the corner of Amos Street and Factory Street (today’s West 10th Street and Waverly Place), the building has welcomed New Yorkers since the 1840s—first as a grocery store and, by 1864, as a bar. Over the decades it became a neighborhood institution, drawing artists, writers, and jazz-era locals who made the West Village famous. From the 1950s onward, Julius fostered a steady gay clientele and evolved into one of the city’s longest-running gay nightlife venues. It remains a friendly, low-key hangout where regulars and visitors mingle over classic drinks, bar food, and the kind of unpretentious Village vibe that’s hard to find anywhere else. Julius is also nationally recognized for its role in the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. On April 26, 1966, four homophile activists staged a public “Sip-In” here to challenge discriminatory liquor regulations that targeted queer people. Their act of civil resistance became a milestone in queer history and cemented Julius as an essential stop for anyone interested in the story of gay New York. Today, Julius continues to operate as a welcoming neighborhood gay bar and historic New York landmark, offering a warm atmosphere, strong drinks, and a sense of continuity with the Village’s cultural past.

Vibes

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