Photos by Shirley Larkins5-Star Saloon – A Great Bar

There’s hardly a coed in Reno who hasn’t posed in the infamous cage at 5-Star.  The bar has become a weekend destination for mixed crowds of every persuasion and is especially popular with the fraternity and sorority community.  Next year, the downtown drinking 

 establishment will celebrate its 35^th Anniversary as Reno’s oldest gay bar with a gala special event.  I spoke with bar manager Jay Wilson about what makes the 5-Star so cool.

5-Star Saloon – A Great Bar

There’s hardly a coed in Reno who hasn’t posed in the infamous cage at 5-Star.  The bar has become a weekend destination for mixed crowds of every persuasion and is especially popular with the fraternity and sorority community.  Next year, the downtown drinking

The staff is phenomenal. How do you find such exceptional people?

“We’ve become a very sought after employer. There’s a rigorous vetting and interviewing process based on character. A good staff-customer fit is what we’re looking for.”

Photos by Shirley LarkinsHow’d you get involved here?

“I was a customer first. I was marketing the bar before I ever worked here. I came on as a sub and it turned into a full-time management position.  The bar underwent a huge face lift three years ago.  The welcoming and acceptance was everything to me.  5-Star is a place where I can bring my gay and straight friends.”

The 5-Star has a great buzz generated from word-of-mouth on all the raucous dance parties that happen spontaneously almost nightly.  There’s a lot to do and it’s always changing.  A different fine artist is on display for a 30-day stint every month at 5-Star.  The bar is active in the non-profit and philanthropic communities and hosts fundraisers frequently.

Photos by Shirley Larkins5-Star’s bringing in live comedy and improv in November.  DJ’s play Friday through Monday nights.  On Friday nights DJ Ja’net plays Top/Hip-Hop and Pop.  They recently installed two new pool tables and they’re both level!  There’s free wifi; a jukebox with over 700,000 songs on it and hardly ever a door charge to get in.   Every 3^rd Saturday they participate in the Wine Walk and every 4^th Saturday they’re open for the Beer Crawl.  Sundays 2-6pm their popular all you can drink Beer Bust is just $10.  From 4-8pm daily, there are $2 well drinks.  5-Star is one of the few RiverWalk district bars that stays open 24/7.

Don’t miss the Dirty Low Party in December benefitting local AIDS organizations.

5-Star Saloon

132 West Street

775-329-2878

Oliver X