A biker bar is a bar that is frequented by bikers (motorcycle riders). Some are owned or managed by people who are friendly toward bikers.[1] Some bars and restaurants advertise that they are "biker friendly" to attract more bikers and motorcycle (bike) enthusiasts.[1] Biker bars are patronized by people from all walks of life, including bikers, non-bikers, and motorcycle club adherents, including outlaw motorcycle clubs.[2]
Biker socialization
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Biker bars provide a place for people to congregate, socialize, network, eat, drink and celebrate.[2] At times, biker bars may have many motorcycles parked in front of them,[2][3] such as during a motorcycle rally. This provides an opportunity for bikers to socialize, compare their motorcycles, mechanical customizations and modifications, and to discuss aspects of motorcycles and motorcycling.
Many biker bars have rules on whether they allow patrons to wear "colors", many biker bars do not allow "colors" as these are used to define one's position and/or alliance to one club over another. The "No Colors" club rules have become more popular over the years as a way to reduce tension between rival club members and potential security issues.
Motorcycle clubs
editMotorcycle clubs may assign a club member to remain outside of a bar to guard their motorcycles from vandalism[2] or theft while the rest of the group congregates inside. Members of outlaw motorcycle clubs have been known to patronize biker bars.[4][5] Some motorcycle clubs, including outlaw motorcycle clubs, adopt public biker bars as their club bar; as a bar that club members regularly frequent.[2][6] This can provide opportunities for motorcycle clubs to meet potential prospects, or recruits, for their clubs.[2][6] Motorcycle clubs may cordon off an area of a bar as reserved for their members and those that they choose to socialize with, such as other select bikers, single women and friends.[2] This may also occur to provide club members with a vantage point to observe activity occurring in a bar and to spot potential threats.[2] Club biker bars also provide a space for members to meet and discuss club matters, and as a means to unify the group through socialization and camaraderie.[2] Sometimes arrangements are made between motorcycle clubs and bar managers or owners regarding the utilization of a bar in relation to the regular presence of club members.[2]
Motorcycle club members have also performed bouncer services at times in biker bars.[2] This can occur for several reasons, such as to protect their members or to prevent various conflicts from occurring or escalating. Sometimes club members work in unison with bouncer staff in bars,[2] and sometimes club members are paid employees as part-time bouncers.[2] Additionally, club members sometimes receive preferential service by bar staff, such as not having to wait in lines to get inside of a crowded bar while non-club members wait outside in a queue.[2]
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Motorcycles parked at Bruce's Bar in Severance, Colorado
Examples of biker bars
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- The Rock Store is a restaurant in Cornell, California, in Malibu Canyon, that is popular with motorcyclists.
- The Ace Cafe is located on the North Circular Road in London, England, UK.
- Squires Cafe Bar is located just outside Sherburn in Elmet, a short distance from Leeds, UK.[7]
- Cook's Corner is a bar and restaurant located in Trabuco Canyon, Orange County, California[8][9][10]
- Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is a bar and restaurant chain in New York and New Jersey.[11][12]
- The Full Throttle Saloon is located near Sturgis, South Dakota in Vale[13] and has been described as the world's largest biker bar.[14][15][16][17][18] The reality television series Full Throttle Saloon chronicled the daily operations of the establishment.
- Hogs and Heifers was a bar located in New York City that opened in 1992. It closed in August 2015.[19]
- The Hurley Mountain Inn in Hurley, New York was famous for its rough and tumble biker bar scene, but then a NY State Trooper barracks was sited directly across the street and the bar settled into a tame, family-style establishment.
- Johnny's Bar in Hollister, California has been documented as being a historical biker bar.[20]
- Cruisers Bar & Grill is located in Post Falls, Idaho.[21]
- Scoundrels Pub in Las Vegas, Nevada and a group of motorcycle clubs jointly sued the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in January 2012, alleging violations of the constitutional rights of bikers.[22] The lawsuit alleged that the Las Vegas police department advised bar owners to discriminate against motorcycle clubs by denying them entry into their bars.[22]
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Brassieres hung by patrons at Hogs and Heifers
See also
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References
edit- ^ a b Biker Gangs and Organized Crime – Thomas Barker.. p. 64.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Wolf, Daniel R. (January 1991). Wolf 1991, pp.180-209. ISBN 9780802073631. Retrieved 2015-03-09.
- ^ Traveling with Philosophes – Ken Ewell. p. 493.
- ^ Gods of Mischief: My Undercover Vendetta to Take Down the Vagos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang – George Rowe.. p. 184.
- ^ Deadly Force: In the Streets with the U.S. Marshals – Carsten Stroud. pp. 434-435.
- ^ a b Wolf, Daniel R. (January 1991). Wolf 1991, pp. 60-61. ISBN 9780802073631. Retrieved 2015-03-09.
- ^ "Squires Bikers Cafe". Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
- ^ Fair, Erik (February 1991). Dances with hogs. Orange Coast. pp. 83–91. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
- ^ "Best Biker Bars in Orange County". CBS News, Los Angeles. August 2, 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
- ^ "About Cooks Corner". Cooks Corner. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
- ^ Klatell, James (December 2, 2006). "600 Illnesses Linked To New York Biker Bar". CBS News. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
- ^ Frommer's New York State – Marc Lallanilla, Neil Edward Schlecht, Brian Silverman. p. 368.
- ^ Ramsey, Sarah (June 18, 2021). "The Full Throttle Saloon in South Dakota is an Adult Playground". Wide Open Country. Wide Open Media Group. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
- ^ Cutbertson, Ian (December 14, 2012). "Full Throttle Saloon". The Australian. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- ^ Perigard, Mark A. (November 10, 2009). "Sleazy rider: 'Full Throttle Saloon' serves bikers, beer, babes". Boston Herald. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- ^ "Local entrepreneur gets reality series about running world's largest biker bar". Dyersburg State Gazette. November 10, 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
- ^ "One Man - One Vision: To Create the World's Largest Biker Bar". Full Throttle Saloon. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
- ^ "TruTV Gets Sturgis Fever at World's Largest Biker Bar in New Series Full Throttle Saloon". The Futon Critic (Press release). October 28, 2009. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
- ^ Stamler, Bernard (June 22, 1997). "Biker Bar Owner's Legacy Is Revelry". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
- ^ "Hollister police: Hells Angels bikers wanted after brawl at Johnny's Bar". KSBW News. July 10, 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2013. Quote: "Johnny's Bar is included in history books about American motorcycles because it was around when the Hollister riot of 1947 happened and inspired the movie "The Wild One," starring Marlon Brando."
- ^ "Cruisers".
- ^ a b Drawhorn, Aaron (January 11, 2012). "Motorcycle Clubs, Bar Sue Metro Police for Alleged Harassment". CBS News, Channel 8 (Las Vegas). Retrieved 28 December 2013.
Bibliography
edit- Wolf, Daniel R. (1991). The Rebels: A Brotherhood of Outlaw Bikers. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0802073638.
Further reading
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Books
edit- Bike Lust: Harleys, Women, And American Society - Barbara Joans. pp. 110–111.
- The Mammoth Book of Bikers. p. 411.
- Hartmann, Chuck; Hartmann, Kenn (2002). Hartmann's Chicagoland Guide to Biker Bars. Hartman Biker Bars.
- Hartmann, Chuck; Hartmann, Kenn (2003). Hartmann's Guide to Milwaukee Biker Bars. Spirit Bear Pub. ISBN 1889401269.