Safe Space, Sacred Trust: The Incredible 53-Year Legacy of Grand Rapids' Apartment Lounge
From AIDS crisis to modern threats, The Apartment Lounge remains a sanctuary in West Michigan
On a nervous 21st birthday venture into what would become his future, Bobby Johnson walked into The Apartment Lounge's previous location in Grand Rapids. The bar was filled with patrons in their 30s and 40s — “old” to his young eyes — during happy hour. Milt Lennox, one of the owners at the time, along with his life partner Ed Ladner, called out for his driver's license and made an announcement to the crowd. Johnson wondered what he'd gotten himself into.
"Shut up and sit down," Johnson recalled Lennox telling him. "I'm going to buy you your first legal drink and tell you a story." That one drink turned into many, as the bar's patrons spent five hours sharing stories with the birthday boy. Then came the pranks: Lennox directed Johnson to a nonexistent dance floor upstairs in the three-story building. Red-faced and embarrassed, Johnson declared, "You embarrassed me in front of the whole wide gay world on my 21st birthday. If you ever sell this bar, you better sell it to me."
He couldn't have known then that Lennox and Ladner would take that declaration to heart. Years later, on the day of his death in 2015, Lennox revealed to Johnson why he'd been chosen as successor: "I've watched you grow. I've watched you change. You run one of the largest companies in town. You've never taken advantage of anybody. And you are always the first one to stop to help," Johnson reminisced recently, wiping tears from his eyes.
That passing of the torch would make Johnson only the second owner in The Apartment Lounge's 53-year history. He says that Lennox and Ladner were “two of the most important people that ever touched my life,” teaching him to “always think outside the box and never let anybody define me.” Johnson had come out at 15, in an era just before the AIDS crisis would devastate the community. His coming out story — being told by his Italian Catholic mother to “go away and come back tomorrow,” only to return to unconditional acceptance — helped shape his understanding of the importance of safe spaces and love.
The Apartment Lounge first opened its doors in 1972 on the corner of Monroe and Fulton in Grand Rapids, popular especially among the leather crowd. In 1988, it found its permanent home at 33 Sheldon Ave NE, where it continues to stand as a beacon of hope and resistance. For over five decades, this establishment — one of the longest-running LGBTQ+ bars not just in Michigan but in the entire U.S. — has represented far more than just a place to gather.
Today, under Johnson's stewardship, the establishment continues to serve as a crucial gathering place for LGBTQ+ individuals and allies alike. "I've never been as afraid for people as I am today,” he said, because the Trump administration is trying to "recreate the fear and the domination and all of the things that were the norm back then.”
“This happens every 35 years or so in history where you get the influx of all this again, but he's already worn it out,” he added.
During his youth, Johnson endured harassment, recounting how he was "chased by people and called everything under the sun." Recently, when confronted by someone shouting slurs from a passing car while walking his dog, he responded with the confidence of what he calls an "old queen" who's seen it all before: "Maybe you should suck a dick and maybe then you would know who you actually are." The bully squealed off.
"We need to remember and we need to share with the younger people that we've been through this once — more than once," Johnson reflected, drawing parallels between past struggles and present challenges. His concern for the community's safety is palpable: "We stuck together in groups and that's what I want to encourage everybody to do. We're stronger in groups. And in today's world, [people] are real quick to shoot off. I just don't want people to get themselves in a place where they're alone. We don't want anybody dying for this."
On a September night nearly six weeks ahead of the 2024 election, the air inside the Apartment Lounge was thick with something both electric and comforting. A warmth emanated through the long, narrow space, not just from the low amber glow of the bar lights, but from the quiet camaraderie of those gathered. At the bar, a lone patron sat absorbed in the flickering screen of their propped-up iPad, lost in a world of pixels. Elsewhere, friends leaned into each other at the bar and in booths, cocktails in hand. Being inside The Apartment Lounge felt like a relic from a time when queer bars didn’t need to be anything more than what they had always been — safe harbors. A place to take a seat, order a drink and simply belong.
"Being able to work at a business that has served as a safe space in the LGBTQ+ community for over 50 years is such an honor," said bartender Matt Stark, who joined The Apartment Lounge in early 2023. "When I first started working here, I thought this bar was just known by Grand Rapids locals, but I soon learned that we get customers from all around the country. It's always so cool to see new faces that tell me they try to come here whenever they visit the state. The work this bar does to give back to the community also warms my heart."
This legacy of community service stretches back decades. As Johnson explained, "I've helped so many organizations. Lennox and Ladner gave the startup money for the Red Project and the [Grand Rapids] Pride Center that helped all of those organizations get started. And back when the AIDS epidemic hit, they actually brought information to Grand Rapids about the epidemic and what was going on, because we weren't allowed to know."
"He was always very selfless," Johnson reflected on Lennox’s influence, "and that, I think, was kind of cool for me because in our community, so many people spend so much time trying to impress. But he genuinely just cared about people, and that's how I am. It's important to me that we take care of people, it's important to me that we do fundraisers to help organizations."
As for Stark, he has discovered that his role extends far beyond mixing drinks and closing tabs. What began as a bartending job has evolved into something more meaningful — a chance to be part of a legacy of community care and connection.
“Working here for such a short amount of time has shown me how much of an impact a small bar could have on an entire community. This place just makes me feel proud to go to work every day. Even on days that I don't feel like tending bar, it's nice to know that I still might be helping someone just by showing up to work and showing them kindness and hospitality."
During the pandemic in 2022, The Apartment Lounge was honored by Bubly Sparkling as one of just four venues designated "safe spaces" in the entire U.S. As part of this recognition, the lounge received a grant to help sustain operations during a challenging time for LGBTQ+ spaces.
“That made me feel amazing — that we were still able to do that and give people a place to be themselves,” Johnson said, “and we will continue to do that. That's who we are and that's what we're going to continue to do because we're not going anywhere.”
Long before Johnson became the steward of one of Michigan's most historic LGBTQ+ establishments, his entrepreneurial spirit was already in full swing.
"I busted my butt for everything I have," recalled Johnson, who grew up in a middle-class family. His childhood hustle was impressive – at just 6, he was shoveling his neighbors' snow. "Figured out that if I bought shovels that I could have the neighbor kids shovel and I could keep half the money at 8," he said. By 12 years old, he had expanded into a successful lawn care operation. When his mother told him that if he wanted air conditioning in the house, he'd have to pay for it himself — a cost of $900 — he handed her $1,000. Not only did he purchase three air conditioners for his family's home, but he also covered their summer electric bills.
At 14, he was managing an ice cream parlor owned by his neighbors. When they announced their divorce and plans to sell the business for $18,000, Johnson saw an opportunity. His mom was skeptical: "Where are you going to get $18,000?" Without hesitation, Johnson went upstairs, retrieved his Kent Bank book, and came back down. His mother was stunned to see he had $20,000 in savings. "I said, 'When is the last time anybody paid attention to me? Literally. When is the last time anybody paid attention to me?'" he recalled.
This early display of financial acumen and work ethic foreshadowed Johnson's future business achievements. Now, Johnson is establishing The Apartment Lounge Foundation, set to launch in June. The foundation will focus on driving social change by providing $50,000 in scholarships to LGBTQ+ youth in its inaugural year, while also supporting political organizations that champion LGBTQ+ rights. Johnson's philanthropic work extends far beyond these public initiatives — he says he has quietly donated millions of dollars to various causes, preferring to make an impact without seeking recognition.
"My friends are always like, 'You'd have so much more money if you didn't worry about everybody else,'" he said. His response to them: "But if I don't, who's going to?"
Meanwhile, the establishment's annual Pride Sunday celebration, held on Father's Day, has grown from 107 attendees to nearly 2,400 people, becoming what Johnson calls "the party of the year." Johnson has structured the ownership through a trust to ensure the establishment's future remains secure. "Nothing can ever happen to it," he explained. "My trust owns everything. I'm the landlord. We're not going to have to worry about anybody being able to touch us ever."
His message to the community and fellow leaders is clear: "If you're in a position of leadership, we all need to stick together. Now is the time to spread our voices, spread our wings, and make sure that we're protecting each other, sticking together and not letting them win.”
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