No signs of ever slowing down after 26 years
Georgies bar in Asbury Park, just celebrated its 26-year anniversary with a huge celebration on Nov. 9. The bar hosted a day of activities, including a drag show hosted by the bar’s resident Sunday Drag Brunch hostess Divinity Banks, a buffet spread, music beats by DJ Mick Hale, and a night filled with karaoke hosted by resident KJ Ted D’Bierre.
Georgies, with its lively, welcoming atmosphere, has been a staple of Asbury Park for over two and a half decades. It’s a place where no one is ever turned away and is affectionately known as the “gay Cheers of the Jersey Shore.”
The bar was founded in November 1999 by George Lister in memory of his partner, George Aten, and is a beloved institution celebrating the LGBTQ community. Lister’s goal in establishing the bar was to create an inclusive, safe space for members of the LGBTQ community.
And that goal has been achieved many times over.
Although Lister has since retired from the daily running of the bar, his competent staff has continued to soldier on under Lister’s guidance for years. As of the last couple of years, the reins have been passed on to Lister’s niece, Shannon Barry, and her husband, Rick.
The bar’s general manager, Joe Cole, has held the position since 2014 and started working at the bar in 2012.
“For me, Georgies means community and loyalty,” said Cole, 46, of Asbury Park. “You come in here; you meet friends and family that become your family for years. I’m still friends with some of the first people I’ve ever met the first time I came here.
“The bar has saved many people in the community throughout the years. The best part of being general manager is when you’re walking around the bar at different times and seeing people having the best times of their lives or smiling and laughing with their friends. And they chose to come here to celebrate what they’re celebrating, or just grab a drink after work, or anything like that.
“But to see the customers happy having a good time, that means a lot.”
Georgies has been the home for many events, fundraisers, celebrations and weekly features. Over the years its patrons have been treated to weekly and monthly drag showcases, karaoke nights, pool tournaments, Music Mondays — where local bands and artists take the stage — Jersey Leather Cigar Socials, the annual Backpack Drive and dunk tank supporting the children of Asbury Park, trivia nights, annual Karaoke Idol competition series, go-go boys dance nights, the annual Asbury Park Toy Drive, shows and events celebrating the trans community, RuPaul’s Drag Race viewing parties, annual Pride celebrations, and summer dance parties on the patio. Also, the bar for several years has hosted the afterparty for the annual Pink Prom, a fundraiser that benefits many LGBTQ organizations.
Cole reiterated that an awesome staff has been beneficial to Georgies’ continued success as well. From the bartenders and barbacks to the security staff, from the kitchen workers led by great people to the management team, with amazing drag queens, DJs, and karaoke hosts always keeping the fun times flowing, the bar keeps patrons happy and coming back.
Georgies is well-known as a gay establishment but has always welcomed members of all communities and walks of life. The bar feels like family and home to countless individuals.
Community members share expressions of love for the bar
“I’ve been coming to Georgies since it opened, and it’s always my favorite place. Georgies is always there to support the LGBTQ+ community and everyone else surrounding that. Anytime you need some place to go, anytime you need a friend, anytime you need somebody to talk to or listen to you, Georgies is the place to be. The bar never changes; it’s consistent. Georgies is great, the DJs are great, the staff is great, and the customers are great,” said Wendy Tesoroni, 40, a resident of Garfield, Bergen County, and an employee of Georgies.
“I’ve been performing drag here since I was 21. To me, Georgies is a place where I can come and be myself around people that look like me and people who will love me. It’s been great doing drag here. I love to meet new people, and this is my home bar. Knowing people that frequent the bar and frequent my show makes me feel good. To know someone is leaving with something that they didn’t come with, whether it be their favorite song that I performed or something inspirational that I said, or even something just making people feel good — it means the world to me,” said Johnnie Johnson, 35, a resident of Staten Island, New York., who performs as Divinity Banks and hosts the bar’s weekly drag brunch on Sundays.
“Georgies bar is the place to be. All my friends, we all grew up in Georgies ever since I turned 21. It’s been a place where I can get away from some of my problems. School sometimes can be rough, but I can say that when I come back to the bar and I meet up with all my friends, it still takes me back in the art scene and seeing all the drag queens, it’s great. The bar just has a really good vibe. I live all the way in New Brunswick (Middlesex County) for school; I go to Rutgers. And to be honest I can’t stay up there on the weekends, because I just have to come back to Georgies. I have to be home — and Georgies is home. I’m a shot boy at Georgies now, and I love it,” said De’Shon Parkman, 27, a resident of Asbury Park.
“Georgies to me is a place where you can be yourself, find family that’s not your bloodline, and then they’re your family forever. Georgies brings smiles, raises money, and gives hugs, said David Hoffman, 56, a resident of Asbury Park.
“Georgies has always been my home. It has been the place that I’ve felt seen, safe, and loved. I have been coming here for over 12 years, and I have always found that coming back here is the thing that gets me to feel more alive, happier, and I’m so grateful for this place, said Irena Moore, 37, a resident of Ocean Township, Monmouth County.
“Everyone just treats you like one of their own and that’s why I kept coming back — because this truly is my community.”
“Georgies to me, from the second I walked in the door, was immediately about community and family. Everyone just treats you like one of their own and that’s why I kept coming back — because this truly is my community,” said Tyler Hastie, 30, who performs as drag queen host Tastie at the bar’s Thursday night drag showcase, “Tastie’s Cabinet of Curiosities,” and is a resident of Toms River Township, Ocean County.
“Georgies means to me a safe place where you can always go in by yourself and meet a friend. And over the years you always feel accepted; it’s the more the merrier, and you’ll never get turned away,” said Becky Evans, 44, a resident of Neptune Township, Monmouth County.
By the way people describe the bar, it will always be an establishment at the Jersey Shore where everybody knows your name, and everyone is treated the same.
Here’s looking ahead to many more anniversaries for the “gay Cheers,” located on 5th Avenue and Memorial Drive in Asbury Park, and where everyone is welcome.
