Stonewall Inn

My name is Julio Cesar Gonzalez and last night on 5/2/26 I was at The Stonewall Inn supporting my friend and Drag Performer Harmonica Sunbeam. I purchased a drink (Blue Long Island Iced Tea) at the bar and I was told there is a 2-drink minimum but since I had a digital replacement card from Chase because I'm waiting for a new one, the bartender told me that the purchase of the one drink was fine. I proceeded to go upstairs with my drink for the show. I put my drink down and as soon as I put my drink down, a bartender told me “there's a 2 minimum drink” I advised him that I aware of the rules downstairs and he advised me that it's a “2 minimum drink during the show upstairs.” I found it off that The Stonewall Inn now has a “4 DRINK MINIMUM” now. 2 downstairs and 2 upstairs. Mind you there's no sign in the establishment anywhere about these rules. The same bartender who took my 1st finished drink told me the rules again. I advised him “I'm aware of the rules and you need to wait. When I'm ready to order another drink, I will.” He didn't any of my responses because I'm an educated Dominican man. A tall big black man approaches me and asks to speak to me. I said I'm ok thank you. He waits. Approaches me again to talk to me. I said no thanks. He then says he's security and wants talk to me and I said “I’ll speak to you later. I'm enjoying the drag show and I'd anyone wants to speak wit me it should be the bar owner or manager regarding my purchases” A manager comes up to me. I explain the situation and I advised him “I’ll make the purchase. I just finished drinking a blue long island. When is the show over?” He replied “in 25 minutes and you don't look like you’ll be buying a drink” 😳 Mind I was dressed up in a button down shirt, nice jeans and sneakers. Harmonica Sunebeam even stopped the drag show mid show on the mic to ask if I was ok and I replied “NO!” and she proceeded with her show. I get escorted downstairs by Steven (Security tall black man) and I said “im not leaving until I get the owners name and contact info” I speak with a nice lady named “Diane” and she couldn't believe the story when I told her. She took down my name and number and stated that Kurt Kelly was the owner. I made a complaint in the stonewall website and advised them that Kurt Kelly (Owner) Stacy Lentz (Owner) Bill Morgan (Business Partner) and Tony DiCicco (Business Partner) should call me before I seek legal counsel. I have my receipt for my purchase of my drink and text messages from Harmonica Sunbeam regarding the incident AND we can check the cameras in Stonewall to see how many times the bartender harrassed me (3 times) within MINUTES to purchase another drink right after he took my empty glass. I felt discriminated last night from the staff Mike and Mark for harassing me to buy more drinks and to tell me that “I don't look like I am going to buy more drinks” when I could've have easily had they been patient. There's NO SIGN at Stonewall Inn advising the patrons that a “4 DRINK MINIMUM 2 downstairs and 2 upstairs” is required to enter their establishment or to enjoy your friend who is the main guest of the Drag Show. Please feel free to reach me at anytime.

Great atmosphere, friendly staff, reasonable prices, and the feeling of being in a historical site, on ground where the fight for our rights started. 💙🩷🤍🩷💙

We had an unpleasant experience at Stonewall. The blond female bartender (referred to in multiple other prior reviews) ruined our experience. My wife and I came from out of town to see this historic and meaningful place. We brought her niece and nephew and my sister-in-law. They all were excited to see the Inn. Fast forward to the female bartender being very unfriendly, unwelcoming, and it was a huge let down. We were pretty excited to be there and had walked for over an hour. There were no seats for the 5 of us, so we gathered stools around a post in the middle of the room. We just wanted to sit. The bartender immediately came over and snapped at us for having them where they were. She was bossy and rude. I realized her point about blocking the space, and we quickly moved them back. We meant no harm. There was no, "hey, sorry, having stools here will block others" and definitely no, "can I get you all something?" She left the 5 of us feeling unwelcome and as if we were trouble makers. We went outside and started to sit out there, then saw a group leave. After a little debate, we decided to try again. We found our way back inside to a 6 top The blond bartender walked over to the table behind us, glared at us as she picked up empties, and still do not greet us or even acknowledge us. She was rude and doesn't seem to posess and real customer service. It was disappointing and ruined the whole experience. We left without ever buying a drink and took our money elsewhere. Sad. I cant imagine we will go back, ever. She might say good riddance should she read this and that's ok. A little politeness would have gone a long way. We were just there to experience the bar and buy a drink for a 21 year old Masters Degree graduate who thought Stonewall was important and a significant part of our story. Sucks feeling unwelcome there, of all places. Shame on you. We would have left with T shirts. 😞 This was our only poor experience in NYC.

For a bar with such history really sad to see how shitty the service is