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Warehouse 28

Category: Places

Dates: 1978-?

Address: 2529 Franklin Pike, Nashville, TN

Warehouse 28 was a much beloved dance club space started by Steve Smith and his partner Michael “Dolly” Wilson on April 13, 1979. The 28 in the name represents the date in October that Smith and Wilson first met. They decorated the interior similar to The Club House in Washington, D.C. Warehouse 28 was hot spot for drag performances and major events, like the Miss Gay South U.S.A. pageant’s preliminary contests.

According to an interview with Wilson, during the third month of the club’s operation someone threw a fireball into the back of the building. Luckily, the property was able to be salvaged with help from the local community and it reopened within a few days.

See also: Nashville CARES

Sources: Various Dare issues; Philip Staffelli, “The Queer Eye for Nashville: How LGBTQ People Form Community, and Make Spaces, and Places…Like Everyone Else.” MA thesis, Middle Tennessee State University, ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 2021. 

3 thoughts on “Warehouse 28”

  1. I am trying to find the last name of a bartender/ helper who worked at Warehouse 28 and at the Chute. His first name was George, and he passed away in a motorcycle accident while leaving Darryl’s restaurant in 1981 or 1982. I was a good friend, but I cannot remember his last name. Any help would be appreciated, Thanks, Al

  2. Once upon a time long long ago in the very early 1090s I once used to tour around witth the all male stripper group, Male Ordar with the late Tony Diangeo and Chase Hunter. This was by far one of my favorite spots in the USA.. albeit met with controversy 🤣 some might recalll Tony winning the Mr Gay USA pageant there., anyway, “Joey Morgan” here., dropping in

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