Here's another Orlando City Soccer Stadium neighbor: Stonewall Bar (741 West Church Street, Orlando, FL 32805). This one-story bar is currently under construction with the addition of a second story.
This gay bar is directly across the street from the site of the stadium is perfectly situated to handle the thousands of soccer fans who pre-game, tailgate and post-game party.
The owner of this baris a genius.
You long-time readers may recall that in 2009, we called the owner a genius.
Here's the direct quote:
"This bartender is a genius."
In 2009, the biggest news was the soon-to-be-built Amway Center. And that was BIG news. To be right in the middle of Church Street between that and the Citrus Bowl was genius. Now in 2015, with the soccer stadium RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, the guy is clearly a super-genius.
Here's what we said in 2009 when we first walked into the bar:
"There was Michael Wanzie, the GodFather of downtown theatre. Doug Baauser, the comedy genius. Billy Manes, longtime voice of the print-larious... and one smart bartender who built a gay bar in Parramore, right down the street from the being-built Orlando Event Center (now called the Amway Center), right near a park, right near everything that is going to be happening in downtown in the next 5 years. Soon, this part of town is gonna be seething with moneyed foot traffic pouring out of the basketball church. People wanting nightlife and fun. People being BEGGED by Plaza Cinema Theatre and City Arts Factory to cross I4. People who need a good stiff gay drink. This bartender is a genius."
Below are photos of the construction taken in early August 2015.
A peek inside
The view from the bar is this: the site of the upcoming Orlando City Soccer stadium,