Talk:Sutton’s Place

Comments on Sutton’s Place

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Chdaxe said ...

05:31, 19 March 2010 (EST)

Some of the bio runs contrary to what I personally know & remember. I believe Ernie Pesis bought the bar from Gordon Locksley, which gave it a gay ownership before Ernie purchased it. Rumors swirled about Ernie, probably because he was a mystery to most, as he never came to the bar during business hours & only worked in it's office during the day. I knew him personally & never had any inkling of any untoward activity beyond convincing a friendly judge to fix his friends parking tickets. He impressed me as a true straight ally of the gay community. He passed away a few years ago, & I remember him as a decent caring individual.

His son Ronnie Pesis who owned the Saloon was another matter. Perhaps that is where the questionable business dealings comes from. Ronnie had some drug related legal difficulties & put his bar in the names of Andy & John who subsequently took over, but the specific details are not known to me. Ernie's other son, Jimmy who is still in the area could perhaps fill in the blanks.

Suttons moved briefly to 5th & Hennepin, where it was quickly overwhelmed by straight partiers. Soon it's gay identity was lost & eventually it through an identity change followed by a name change. It was glamorous fun while it lasted.

love sutton place said ...

14:43, 16 May 2010 (EST)

Old Sutton's...New Suttons...Grewatest Dance Club of its' era. Influenced many top dj's and music professionals! I got pictures...and recently spoke with an original "Sutton Place Dancer"! What a great place! Weren't all the Hennepin Avenue Liquor Dealers associated with the mob? Pesis, Gold, Montpetit...

Robbie Levine said ...

10:49, 5 August 2010 (EST)

I would love to get together with people that went to Sutton's. Love to see pictures also or get my hands on a Sutton's annex ash tray. Loved loved loved that bar

Enbivouac said ...

18:38, 21 October 2010 (EST)

I used to hang at Sutton's on 5th my first year in college, Fall of 1976. Danced my ass off, great music, great energy, beautiful people, Jim Wessels, Spacey Tracy, Rob, Chris W., Greg, Brian, Kim, Sheila, Randy, Jody (who loved the Lady Bump song), Hollywood and all the Sutton Place Dancers. And God Bless Glen the bouncer for letting me in even though I wasn't 18 yet. And who could forget Casey the bartender downstairs, the first flamboyant gay man in his natural habitat I ever set eyes on . Those were the days....