Historic North Shore Gay Bar Closing its Doors

LYNN, MA — One of the North Shore's first gay bars will be closing at the end of the month.

Fran's Place, located at 776 Washington St. in Lynn, announced its closure on Sept. 7 via its Facebook page. A farewell party will be hosted on Sept. 24 to thank customers. According to multiple media outlets, the business and property is being sold.

Itemlive.com reports that the business' beginnings can be traced back as far as the 1920s, and it opened as the Lighthouse Cafe in 1940. Upon then-owner Robert Collins' death in 1975, his wife and children took over the business and renamed it Fran's place.

The report also indicates that the bar was the first to enter a float in Boston's gay pride parade, the first to start a fundraiser for AIDS and among the first in the state to host gay weddings.

Eater Boston reports that Fran's Place is one of several bars that claim to be the oldest gay bar in the state.

The bar will officially close to customers on Sept. 26.

Read more from Itemlive.com here.

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