By Kevin Ferrisi –

For nearly five decades, 168 York Street Cafe has been woven into the history of New Haven’s LGBTQ+ community, surviving changing times while remaining a familiar gathering place for generations of queer patrons. Now, the iconic venue is entering a new chapter under new owner Joe Daly, who is looking to preserve the character and history that made the bar special while bringing new energy to the space. A major part of that vision is drag, with a new stage and weekly Saturday night performances putting local drag at the center of the venue’s next era.

Long before drag brunches, Pride celebrations, and LGBTQ+ venues became commonplace across Connecticut, 168 York Street Cafe was already serving as a safe haven for New Haven’s queer community. The venue traces its roots to 1976, when it operated as The Pub Cafe on Chapel Street. After a fire destroyed the original location in 1978, owners Jimmy Bombard and Jerry Carlson relocated the business just down the block to 168 York Street. The new home, once a biker bar known as Inside Out, quickly became a gathering place where LGBTQ+ people could socialize openly during a time when few spaces existed for them to do so.

Throughout the 1980s, The venue established itself as one of Connecticut’s most recognizable gay bars, welcoming everyone from longtime New Haven residents to Yale students. During the AIDS epidemic, the bar became more than a nightlife destination. It served as a place where friendships were formed, support networks grew, and a community leaned on one another through one of the most difficult chapters in LGBTQ+ history.

Former owner, Joseph “Joey” Goodwin, first walked through its doors in 1976 as a teenager searching for a place where he felt he belonged. He joined the staff in 1985 before purchasing the building in 1992. After reopening the business as 168 York Street Cafe on Christmas Day in 1993, the venue earned the nickname “The Gay Cheers,” reflecting its reputation as a place where everyone knew your name and newcomers were always welcome.

As Connecticut’s drag scene grew over the following decades, so did 168 York Street Cafe. The venue became a regular home for drag entertainment, helping provide opportunities for local performers while remaining a gathering place for the broader LGBTQ+ community. Today, it continues that tradition, hosting drag shows and community events while standing as one of Connecticut’s oldest continuously operating LGBTQ+ establishments.

Joe Daly, the new owner of 168 York Street Cafe, brings nearly two decades of experience working in gay bars across New York, Seattle, and Chicago. Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Joe moved to New York in 2009 before eventually deciding to settle in Connecticut with his husband, Ryan, who is originally from the state. Joe Daly previously worked at Partners Cafe in New Haven and was also a regular at 168 York Street Cafe, where he got to know former owner Joey Goodwin. With most of his career spent in the gay bar industry, Joe brings years of experience and a strong understanding of the community that makes these spaces special.

For Joe Daly, taking over 168 York Street Cafe was rooted in the venue’s history and the community that former owner Joey Goodwin built over 35 years. Having spent years as a customer, Joe knew the bar as a place where people could feel comfortable and welcome. When the opportunity to take over the business came along, it felt like a natural fit and a chance to help carry that legacy into its next chapter.

Joe’s goal for 168 York Street Cafe is to preserve the identity and history that longtime customers have come to love while making thoughtful updates for a new generation. Plans include adding a small stage for regular drag performances, reopening the upstairs space, introducing weekly karaoke, creating more consistent events, and making the patio more inviting. New staff and a rotating weekly menu will also be introduced, while keeping many of the familiar bar foods customers already know. 

At the heart of the changes is a desire to keep 168 York Street Cafe feeling like a place that longtime regulars can still call their own while welcoming those discovering the venue for the first time. “Ultimately, I want 168 York Street to remain a place where people can come together, feel comfortable and be themselves. Spaces like this are incredibly important, and I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to help carry that legacy forward,” explained Joe.

Today, 168 York Street Cafe continues to host drag shows, community events, and nightly gatherings while welcoming LGBTQ+ patrons and allies alike. Every Saturday night, the new stage area inside the dining room at 168 York Street will come alive with a weekly drag show hosted by local drag favorites Rory Roux Lay and Enigma Jones. The idea grew out of 168 York Street’s long history as a place where community was built, particularly memories Rory Roux Lay had of the venue in its earlier days. What began as a conversation about creating a monthly event quickly turned into something bigger, with the new owner eager to help bring that same sense of excitement and community back to the bar with a weekly show.