Blush & Blu
 | |
| Address | 1526 East Colfax Avenue Denver, Colorado U.S. |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 39°44′23.5″N 104°58′8.5″W / 39.739861°N 104.969028°W |
| Owner | Jody Bouffard |
| Type | Lesbian bar |
| Opened | 2012 |
| Website | |
| blushbludenver | |
Blush & Blu was a lesbian bar located on East Colfax Avenue in Denver, Colorado.[1] It was the city's last lesbian bar, down from a peak of seven, and one of approximately thirty-three remaining in the United States.[2]
Blush & Blu was owned by Jody Bouffard who previously owned tHERe Coffee Bar and Lounge from 2005 to 2011 and Her Bar from 2008 to 2011. Bouffard also worked at a bar called The Elle.[3][4] In 2012, she reacquired tHERe Coffee Bar and Lounge's space, which she reopened as Blush. It gained its current name in 2013 following an expansion, which also included Voodoo Doughnut's first Colorado location.[2]
Bouffard is also an artist, and her work decorates the bar's space.[5]
Blush & Blu closed in October 2024 and at the time was Colorado's last lesbian bar. Reports indicated the space would be used by a gay bar operated by Bouffard[6][7]
Controversies
[edit]In 2021 a lawsuit was filed against Blush and Blu by three former employees who allege owner Jody Bouffard routinely failed to pay them minimum wage, stole tips during shifts and discriminated against one of the establishment's only Black employees, among other issues alleged in the suit.[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Blush & Blu". Westword. Retrieved 2021-10-18.
- ^ a b Bye, Gabrielle (2021-05-18). "Blush & Blu Is One of the Last Lesbian Bars Left in the Country". Retrieved 2021-10-18.
- ^ Ricciardi, Tiney (2021-06-24). "Denver is home to one of just 21 lesbian bars in the U.S.; here's why it matters". Archived from the original on 2021-07-03. Retrieved 2021-10-18.
- ^ "21 lesbian bars remain in America. Owners share why they must be protected". 2021-06-10. Retrieved 2021-10-18.
- ^ Austin, Nic (2021-09-28). "How Denver's Blush & Blu Survives as a Last Remaining Lesbian Bar". Retrieved 2021-10-18.
- ^ "Colorado's only lesbian bar closes its doors". NBC News. 2024-10-07. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ "Blush & Blu is closing this weekend. But it's not the last lesbian space in Denver". Denverite. 2024-10-04. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ "Denver's only lesbian bar is being sued for racial discrimination, unfair pay". 16 November 2021.