We are lucky to have a place like
Cruisin’ 7th Show Bar & Lounge in Phoenix.
It’s open 20 out of the 24 hours in a day — closes at 2 a.m. and opens back up at 6 a.m., making it one of
several bars in town where you can imbibe that early — and it's dark, and its drink specials are great ($3 bloody marys until noon every morning; all day $5 cocktails). A gay and drag bar, Cruisin' 7th used to be called Cruisin’ Central. It opened in 1977 in a little gift-box-looking bar just north of Roosevelt Street and Central Avenue (the location is still unoccupied). The bar moved to its current spot in 2003.
Husband-and-wife owners Lynn and Mike McGarry, a few veteran bartenders, and the house DJ recently took advantage of the COVID-19 shutdown to completely remodel the entire bar, inside and out. Masks are currently required inside, but that shouldn't stop you from checking out the completely revamped lounge and patio area.
The real accomplishment is the all-new showroom, though. There's a more open floor plan, new VIP seating, redesigned bar area, and brand-new platform for longtime Cruisin’ performers like Lady Christian and Espressa Grande. This'll allow them to make more of an entrance.
“Since we’ve been closed over the past three months, we have touched on every single surface of this building ... and outside,” says Mike of the remodel, seated six feet away in the sparkling new showroom.
For now, Cruisin’ 7th remains open for those long hours, but is not hosting any drag shows, bar games, club nights, or special events. When it can, though, the whole bar will be plenty prepared. Have a look for yourself.