The Back Door

This establishment has extraordinarily good workers. I was having a very rough night this news years and the workers Holly and Alex helped me until my friends were able to find me. I’ve never had such nice workers who were willing to help someone at a bar. Definitely would suggest this bar.

Being from Indianapolis, I had never heard of The Back Door until some friends were performing in a show there, so I decided it would be a good time to head down and support them and check out a new place. I would like to tell you that it was a great experience, but that would be a lie. Instead, this place gets marked on my «never again. Ever list».
I arrived early, so I walked around downtown and watched the Lotus Festival for a while. At the suggestion of one of my friends who was performing, I got to The Back Door early so I could make sure that I got a seat. When I walked in they checked my ID and I paid the cover charge, walked in, and headed to the bar to grab a drink. I grabbed a seat while there was a comedy show going on, so I watched a couple of the acts, and then hung around after it was done. waiting for the show. Someone came on the stage and told everyone that they needed to go to the patio because they had to flip the room for the show. OK, no big deal… I walked out to the patio and hung out. I saw the line that was already starting to form of people who were arriving for the show and was glad I didn’t have to wait in line. It wasn’t until somebody else came up and told everyone on the patio that they would have to leave, get in the line and pay a second cover to get back in that I became a little irritated. Okay, not a little but a lot. I went up and asked the person why we had to leave if we had already paid a cover and why we had to wait in the back of the line when we had gotten there early for the show. The response I got was they have many different shows they go on throughout the night and the covers are different for each one. Annoyed and pissed off, I walked back to my car and drove home.

This is one of my favorites in Bloomington. They have drag shows during the week and on weekends, which are so much fun! The atmosphere is very open and friendly to everyone! Also, if you’re into Bloody Mary’s, Lauren makes the BEST ones.
My only complaint is that the female bouncers can be pretty aggressive and rude at times to customers. Some of them aren’t very welcoming.

Whoa whoa whoa. Wait before you come. They started charging surcharge for credit cards. I was cool with that. I mean, its a local place. I know they need to pay «the man».
I’ve been coming religiously on down days to help support the place. I remember the day they opened with folding tables (and an overly elaborate queen wearing a table dress serving food).
Long gone are my drinking days here. Next weekend is pride film fest, and we are desperate for an after party. Name someplace else…
I don’t mind paying for my drinks. I hate paying your credit surcharge but get it. But… I thought the up charge on liquor was covering the mixer. Why’d I pay ½ the bottle price for a cran and vodka… when on special? Oh, the mixer was 15% surcharge. Bartender recommended I drink the next one straight.
Give me a break.

We tried gong here on a Wednesday night and it was… interesting. Wow. The best thing here was the bartender who was so sweet and made very good drinks. I’d go here on a Wednesday or Thursday just to have on her of drinks. We went back on Friday evening and were forced to pay a cover charge to walk into an empty bar only to be met by a bartender who could not make drinks. After a few minutes, 3 other bartenders joined her and with he 4 combined, they all seemed confused as to what to do and wiping the sticky bar was clearly not one of their tasks.
This place has a lot of potential.

no complaints. i was devastated when i learned e’s closed (i’ve been going there for years & before that, used to pick my mom up at closing!) but i had been here a few times already so i was sure they could hold the gays of btown. whether i want to chill with one of my guys at the bar top or get wasted & sing/​dance/​act stupid, it all seems ok. like someone else said, it does have more of a bull’s vibe (ok, so i only went once, somehow when i was 18, but i LOVED it!) than e’s. i’m not gay, but i support the community & love my guys/​gals who are, so this place never disappoints. i’m a rum & coke girl, but they always have fun drink specials that i try with the guys. ready to go back, that’s for sure: o)

Went there last night for the first time. Fun Bar. Too bad on liquor license thingy. Hopefully will work out, otherwise I cannot see how $$ will be made to stay open. Yes a dead night to go out, but wanted to check it out. We will go back again. Nice people, nice deck out back. Hopefully will make it! ***This review was actually made over a year ago, I didnt know I had not confirmed my email addy*** I am pretty sure they have their liquor by now.

Had high expectations for the place. Then the tacky zebra stripes hit me like a brick, just after the arrogant doorman slapped an $ 5 cover to listen to the shittiest DJ’s I’ve every tried to dance too. Seriously, this DJ was on some Helen Keller shit.
We get it, you’re a gay bar. It’s not hard to set yourself aside as a gay bar in a town like Bloomington. There’s only two of them. It’s not like youre reinventing the LBGT bar/​restaurant industry.
My problem is the ownership, My friends and I stood outside and watched someone fall down their stairs– door person and OWNER simply stand there and do nothing. The poor person had blood streaming down their face and all «Smoove» could do was stand and laugh at the poor person. When my friend made a comment asking for help, she was brushed off and the person injured was told to «Walk It Off». Is this really how you want to develop a «Community». I couldn’t believe the arrogance that came from the Management/​Ownership. I hope this is their first service industry venture and they change their ways.
Anyways, decent prices and there aren’t many options in this town. Just keep your expectations of service and being welcomed very very low. Watch your step.
Love,
a btown lesbian.
Edited from two stars to one.

I am VERY disappointed in this place. We came here for an event and while there, my wallet was stolen. In attempts to get in touch with the management I noticed there was no phone number to call and the only way I could was to email the manager who had helped us plan our event. 24 hours later, no response.
While I was there and trying to see if anyone had found it, I was quickly dismissed, «Just contact us tomorrow, we can’t do anything right now.» I was also informed that a lot of meth heads come to The Back Door and are more likely to steal from people.
I had some important items in my wallet including medication. Thanks for having zero concerns that people are stealing from your paying customers in your establishment. Running a great business there. Bravo.

This place is incredible! I stopped in on karaōke night and what a blast. The crowd was very mixed and everyone was having a great time. Some singing, some dancing, some canoodling out on the patio. It is great that bloomington finally has a refuge from all the the «brew bro» bars that seem to be proliferating.

The Back Door is a gay bar that is brilliantly named on several different levels. We were in Bloomington for the Limestone Comedy Festival and one of the official after parties was hosted by The Back Door. I had a pretty good time here, even though I’m not a gay boy. There were tons of people there dancing, taking over the back balcony, and sitting everywhere you could imagine. The bar has a weird thing going on for it in that they weren’t serving liquor shots, only sake shots. I’m not sure if that’s all the time or just for this particular night. They had a decent selection of beers, but nothing out of the ordinary. There is a huge, spacious dance floor with lights and music and people seemed to enjoy it. The outdoor patio is massive and can hold many, many people. We partied with Doug Benson and several other comics while we were here and that made the entire experience even better. I’m not sure if I’d ever come here by myself as I’d feel somewhat out of place, but it was a fun time nonetheless.

Holy crap! Just when I thought Bloomington was inexplicably going to be forced to have Uncle E’s as it’s only gay dance bar for eternity, someone has answered my prayer and brought the spirit of Bullwinkle’s (if you’re too young to get this reference, trust me, it’s a good thing) back to the downtown area!
Located behind The Atlas, The Back Door is everything Uncle E’s refuses to be. For instance: swank, modern, hip, fun and conveniently located. Weekends here are chock-​full of go-​go dancing, burlesque, hip-​hop/​pop/​dance DJs. Sometimes on Wednesdays and Thursdays they have movie nights. There’s a stage. There’s soft vintage seating. There’s a coat check. It’s a freaking real queer (and straight/​queer-​friendly) dance bar in downtown Bloomington that plays music from this century, y’all! I’ve been there 3 – 4 times already and each time has been total jubilation.
The only drawback I can see is that it’s beer/​wine only for the time being, but with The Atlas literally attached to it, who cares? I run there for a quick cocktail or shot and return for $ 2 PBR tall boys and awesome spectacles. Join the Facebook page and you can get a password that gets you for only $ 1 most nights. And did I mention the cute shirtless bartenders? (Well, the men anyhow, sorry lady lovers!) Live the dream, everyone!