Cafe Lafitte in Exile

Cafe Lafitte in Exile is a bar in New Orleans' French Quarter that has operated continuously since 1933. It claims to be the oldest continuously operating gay bar in the United States.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Name

Originally, the bar was opened in a famous old building at 941 Bourbon Street known as Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop. When the owner of the business, Tom Caplinger was forced to relocate, he named the new bar, Cafe Lafitte in Exile.

History

The bar is open 24 hours a day and has hosted such luminaries as Tennessee Williams and Truman Capote. Operating since the end of Prohibition (albeit in two different locations) the bar claims to be the oldest gay bar in operation in the United States.^[6]

References

1. Simmons, David Lee (July 15, 2008). "Cafe Lafitte in Exile", The Times-Picayune. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
2. Kelly, John (March 27, 2011). "1950's: Tom Caplinger at Cafe Lafitte in French Quarter", The Times-Picayune. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
3. McCabe, Vinton Rafe. In Exile: The History and Lore Surrounding New Orleans Gay Culture and Its Oldest Gay Bar, New York Journal of Books. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
4. "Cafe Lafitte in Exile – New Orleans", NolaPage.com. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
5. "Cafe Lafitte in Exile", GayCities. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
6. "about us". Retrieved November 28, 2015.