Nevertheless, Mark Hunter jumped into the fray in 1982 when he opened Hunters Chicago in Elks Grove, Illinois. He ran the gay bar and dance club there for 31 years before setting his sights on a South Florida spot. He’d already had Palm Springs gays dancing and drinking since 1999. While owning and operating a bar and nightclub wasn’t always the plan – Hunter is an accomplished former ballroom dancer and instructor with the Fred Astaire Dance Studios – he’d been living on and off in South Florida, becoming more of a regular resident in 2005. “I lived on the beach and was traveling back and forth between Chicago and Palm Springs,” Hunter said. “An opportunity came up. I’d always wanted to open a bar in the Fort Lauderdale area.”Īt first he thought his new Hunters location would be in “Searstown,” the commercial center located where North Federal Highway and East Sunrise Boulevard converge. “But I found out that Boom was for sale, and in my opinion it had the most potential,” Hunter said. Hunter and his (now former) partner, Patrick Volkert, bought the former Boom Nightclub space in Wilton Manors and overhauled the interior. They liked the location at the epicenter of Wilton Drive and the way the space was divided. Hunter said his Palm Springs location is very similar - also located in the center of a gay street. “Both are very gay-oriented cities and it is the same business model for both locations,” he said.
Volkert still has a business interest in the Wilton Manors location and is a manager there along with Bruce Howe. Hunters opened at 2232 Wilton Drive in December 2013. It just celebrated its sixth anniversary in business. Hunter said he’s been slowing down his day to day activity with the nightclubs lately. He was 30 years old when he opened Hunters Chicago. He’ll soon be 67.īut he hasn’t slowed down in his passion for helping local nonprofits and supporting other groups like recreational sports teams. He said it’s those community connections over the years that has kept business thriving. Wicked Manors - the massive Wilton Manors Halloween event - has become Hunters main charitable focus each year. It has been the presenting sponsor for four years running. pubblicità Non cè niente di meglio che trovare un modo divertente ed emozionante, di alta qualità club gay ovunque tu sia che vi terrà impegnati durante il fine settimana. The main beneficiary is the Pride Center at Equality Park. Una Bar Gay a Deephaven tipo di posto può essere difficile da individuare se non si guarda lelenco degli elementi di seguito in Menkarta. We want to support our community that’s close by.” “We’re very happy in partnering with the Pride Center for that event,” Hunter said. “They are local. Hunter is particularly proud of the L.I.F.E. It’s a free, 14-week program that helps gay and bisexual men come up with strategies to keep their immune systems strong. It is amazing and has helped many people,” he said. Hunter said while some of the charities he’s supported over the years have a national reach, as much as possible he keeps it close to home.