The Jungle and Juanita’s

While this is a driving tour, our first stop is more like a mini-walking tour. You should park near the intersection of 7th Ave. N and Commerce Street. You can find parking at the Nashville Public Library located at 151 6th Ave North. There are also street options and other parking lots near Hume-Fogg High School and Christ Church Cathedral. Once you’ve parked, head to 715 Commerce Street and find the historical marker.

Welcome to the original location of The Jungle and Juanita’s—a fitting place to start our journey. These two businesses made their mark on Nashville history as the earliest and best-known gay bars in the post-WWII era. Warren Jett opened The Jungle in 1952, and during the day, it was a popular lunch spot for people working on Capitol Hill. Soon after, Jett opened a beer joint next door, called The Leopard. He sold the bar to Juanita Brazier in 1956, and she changed the name to Juanita’s. Both bars were popular with gay men, both from the Nashville area and from out of town. In an age of bus travel, these bars were conveniently located near the Greyhound and Trail Ways bus stations. Jett sold The Jungle in 1960 after his brother was elected sheriff. 

With fire-engine red hair and a personality to match—there’s no shortage of stories about Juanita Brazier and the bar that bore her name. She was fiercely protective of her patrons who were mostly men. Juanita often paid their bail if they were arrested, for example, in 1963 when 27 men were arrested during a raid for “disorderly conduct.” Both bars were forced to move in 1983 when Commerce Street was widened. While no longer open, Juanita’s and The Jungle paved the way for countless other LGBTQ businesses in Nashville. 

The next part of our stop is straight down Commerce Street. Head towards the Cumberland River, passing the Ryman Auditorium and other amazing historic sites along the way. You’ll walk five blocks and stop at 2nd Ave. North—the location of another famous LGBTQ night spot. While you walk, we’ve got more to tell you about gay nightlife in downtown Nashville. Hit pause and then play when you’re ready to listen.

Lower Broadway, as it is known today, is filled with honky tonks, bachelorettes, and bars named for country singers. But it was a very different place in the 1970s, 80s, and early 90s. After the Grand Ole Opry left the Ryman Auditorium in 1974, most of the tourism in this area left with it. More broadly, urban downtown areas experienced a period of decline during these decades—and Nashville was no exception. A handful of reputable businesses remained, but most Broadway businesses shifted to late night, “adult-only” clubs and theaters. The Cumberland Delta Queen Restaurant and Lounge, located at 529 Broadway, hosted three drag shows a night. The short-lived drag bar unfortunately burned down in 1974.

Continue walking until you reach Second Ave North. Turn RIGHT and stop at the corner in front of what is now Chicken Guy (139 2nd Ave). This was the location of the Watch Your Hat and Coat Saloon and is our next stop on the tour.