By Kevin Ferrisi –

Fifty years is a long time for any nightclub, but for Chez Est, reaching the half-century mark is about much more than longevity. The Hartford institution has spent five decades serving as a gathering place for Connecticut’s LGBTQ+ community, and this October, the club will celebrate its 50th anniversary with an entire month of special events, drag shows, parties and appearances from some major names in the world of drag. It is a milestone that reflects both where Chez Est has been and the role it continues to play in Connecticut nightlife.

Chez Est first opened its doors in June 1976 under original owner Gary Bouchard, a straight ally who operated the venue as a full-time gay bar. Since opening its doors in 1976, Chez Est has been a fixture of Hartford’s LGBTQ+ community. Over the past five decades, the club has hosted generations of patrons through drag shows, dance parties, fundraisers and countless nights of celebration, becoming much more than a place to go out. Chez Est has weathered three owners, two fires, a relocation and a pandemic, yet continued to adapt and remain a gathering place for the local queer community.

The club has only had three owners throughout its history. Bryan Couzens started working at Chez Est as a barback in 1995 before eventually purchasing the business from Gary Bouchard in 2008. By the late summer of 2017, Bryan Couzens had announced plans to close Chez Est permanently at the end of the year. For John Pepe, who had spent years working at and becoming part of the club’s community, that was not something he was willing to see happen. After conversations with Bryan, he decided to step in. John reached an agreement with Bryan and purchased Chez Est in October 2017.

The name “Chez Est” translates to “at home” in French, a fitting reflection of the role the club has played in Hartford’s LGBTQ+ community for nearly five decades. Through major social and cultural changes, including the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and the devastating impact of the AIDS crisis, Chez Est has remained a place where people could gather, find community and feel welcome. Its ability to adapt while staying connected to the people it serves has helped the club endure through changing times and become a lasting part of Hartford’s queer history.

Drag has become a particularly important part of that evolution. In 2018, following the success of weekly RuPaul’s Drag Race viewing parties, John and local drag icon Mia E. Z’Lay created their own competition. Originally called Chez Queen, the 10-week competition quickly became a regular draw and eventually evolved into Chez Legends. The name was changed after a drag king won a competition week, with the new name reflecting a more inclusive competition and the “Headliners and Legends” tradition already associated with the bar. The anniversary month will feature a special Chez Legends All Stars All Winners celebration on Saturday, October 3. The event will bring together Mx. Chez Est winners from 2019 through 2026.

Chez Est has long been a place where familiar faces and newcomers come together, creating a welcoming and lively atmosphere for everyone who walks through its doors. Over the years, the Hartford club has earned a reputation as a home for Connecticut drag, hosting performers from across the state as well as stars from RuPaul’s Drag Race. That legacy includes three Connecticut queens who competed on season 15 of the show, Amethyst, Robin Fierce and Loosey LaDuca, all of whom spent time performing on the Chez Est stage and continue to hold a special connection to the club.

“I have been going to and have worked at the Chez for most of my life. First as a patron, then as an employee, and now as the owner. I have seen all the highs and lows over the decades, and I can honestly say my heart is so full of love and appreciation for our community,” explained John Pepe. He continued, “The saying ‘it takes a village’ has never been more poignant than it is now. The Chez’s community is the heartbeat that keeps it alive. It has been and will continue to be a safe space for many years to come. I am so grateful to be celebrating 50 years in a massive way, bringing together our entire community for this month-long celebration.”

For a venue that has spent 50 years adapting to changes in nightlife while remaining connected to the community that helped sustain it, the anniversary is a chance to look back without losing sight of what comes next. Chez Est has gone from a small gay bar in 1976 to one of Connecticut’s most recognizable LGBTQ+ nightlife institutions. This October, after half a century of drag, dancing, friendships, celebrations and more than a few unforgettable nights, the Chez is opening its doors once again and inviting everyone home.

The celebration begins Friday, October 2, with Lady Tatiana’s Latin Night, featuring RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Alyssa Hunter. The following night, Saturday, October 3, the club will turn its attention to its own history with Chez Legends All Stars All Winners, bringing together past winners from the club’s popular drag competition. The month will continue with a special celebration marking both Chez Est’s 50th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of their beloved dance party, WüF, featuring Nina Flowers.

The lineup continues throughout October with something happening every weekend. Highlights include Sapphic Saturday Birthday Tea with Chai, the Mx. Toxic 2026 Competition presented by Glass Staine, and a special anniversary appearance by RuPaul’s Drag Race season 12 winner Jaida Essence Hall. The club will also celebrate Robin Fierce’s birthday and welcomes the third annual Chez Legends Snatch Game presented by ConnecticutDrag.com hosted by Amethyst, bringing another night of local drag competition and entertainment to the anniversary schedule.

Chez Est will close out its milestone month with a Halloween celebration featuring its annual Halloween Costume Contest, with RuPaul’s Drag Race alum and Connecticut favorite Loosey LaDuca joining the festivities. With local performers, returning favorites, national drag stars and several events celebrating the people and traditions that have shaped the club, the October lineup gives Chez Est plenty of ways to celebrate 50 years while looking toward the next chapter.