About The Menagerie

In the early 1980s, Madeline Lee lived at the Mission Inn in Riverside, surrounded by a close-knit group of gay and lesbian neighbors. Their spirited gatherings often turned into late-night parties filled with laughter, music, and a shared dream: to one day have a local gay bar to call their own.

Determined to bring that dream to life, Madeline opened her first bar, Stage Door, in 1982. Located just across from the Mission Inn, its run was short-lived—shut down by Riverside PD Vice for missing permits. But Madeline was undeterred. Soon after, she leased a small retail space on University Avenue and tried again.

On Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1983, The Menagerie opened its doors. With little more than mismatched sofas, a pool table, and a small beer-and-wine bar, it quickly became a cornerstone of Riverside’s LGBTQ+ community. At the height of the AIDS crisis, The Menagerie was more than just a bar—it was a sanctuary. It was a place to grieve, to heal, to celebrate, and to remind each other that love, friendship, and authenticity mattered. It was exactly what Madeline envisioned: a place where everyone could belong without fear of judgment.

By the late 1980s, The Menagerie had expanded to include a full liquor license and a restaurant. Within a few years, the restaurant gave way to a pulsing dance club, home to karaoke nights and signature events like Prom Night and the Easter Bonnet Contest. Through the ‘90s, it became one of downtown Riverside’s most beloved nightlife destinations.

The club’s most famous feature—the neon “FABULAUS” sign—was a happy accident. After two failed attempts to get the sign made correctly, the third arrived with a glaring misspelling. Madeline, martini in hand, shrugged and declared, “F*ck it, we’re keeping it!” That bold decision turned the sign into an iconic piece of Menagerie history, perfectly capturing its playful, resilient spirit.

In June 1999, Madeline passed the torch to longtime patron and friend David St. Pierre. Bringing passion and vision, he remodeled the space with a circular bar, a modernized dance floor, and bold artwork by local painter David Randers. These updates gave the club a fresh energy and helped it thrive into the new millennium.

The Menagerie became one of the first venues in the region to host ‘80s nights, combining music videos with cheap draft beers that made Wednesdays legendary. Karaoke, meanwhile, has held its place as a Monday-night staple for more than twenty years.

In 2003, Philip Bailey launched a Thursday drag show called All That Glitters, originally hosted by Cassi Phillips of Fant-a-Shes fame. Cassi eventually handed the spotlight to Raven, whose award-winning show Snatch! made The Menagerie a must-see destination. Raven would go on to compete on RuPaul’s Drag Race (Season 2) and RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars (Season 1) and is now an Emmy Award–winning makeup artist as RuPaul’s personal MUA.

Since opening its doors in 1983, The Menagerie has proudly served the LGBTQ+ community of Riverside, the Inland Empire, and beyond. Today, it remains the longest-running bar in historic downtown Riverside—a lasting tribute to Madeline Lee’s vision and to the generations of people who continue to make it their home.

We invite you to visit, raise a glass, and become part of The Menagerie’s story.

Cheers,