ChiChiz owners Oliver McLean (far left), Travis Moore (far right) and Anastasia Tyler (centre front) with some friends at the recent Spring Out Fair Day. Photo: ChiChiz.
As one Cube closes, another bar opens … just as we lose one queer venue, a new one is on the way as a trio of friends plan to open a New York-inspired queer bar in the Sydney Building.
ChiChiz is on a mission to create a safe and vibrant environment for expression, celebration and belonging for the LGBTQIA+ community.
ChiChiz is an homage to an iconic queer bar of the same name in New York, which closed in 2010.
Co-owner Travis Moore knows first-hand how queer bars offer safe spaces of sanctuary, community and joy.
“I’m from a small town in Maryland, and there was really no representation there at all. But I had always wanted to move to New York City, even as a child. So in 2006, I moved there and was exposed to a whole different lifestyle and range of people like myself. It was there that I really kind of fell in love with people who were like me,” he told Region.
“Representation is important, and being around people who can validate your experiences is empowering, especially as a young person.”
The original ChiChiz bar was a place Travis described as being “warm, welcoming and accepting” at a time in his life when he really needed to see that. The bar was an important cultural institution for the New York queer community – in particular Black and Brown people – and he wanted to honour the spirit of that original bar.
Travis met partner Oliver McLean in New York, and then followed his heart when Oliver (who grew up in Goulburn) received a job offer that required him to move back to Australia. It was in Canberra that, through a mutual friend, they met another recent arrival, writer Anastasia Tyler.
The trio quickly bonded over their shared ambition to open a bar (although Travis said he really had to talk Oliver into it). The rest, as they say, is history.
ChiChiz plans to host plenty of events, including drag shows and performances, queer art nights, themed parties, workshops, community support groups, trivia nights, charity events supporting community organisations and karaoke nights. The space even has a piano, so live music is on the cards too! But it will also be the kind of place you can pop into for a quiet beer after a rough day at work.
The team describes the space as an inclusive dive bar. It’s laid-back, a bit rough around the edges, but it welcomes all to be their authentic selves. There are two levels to the space, with upstairs available to hire for private events. The team promises drinks ranging from “glitter-garnished martinis to zero-proof stunners” to local favourites.
Travis said that moving from New York to Canberra was a big adjustment, in part because he didn’t see much of a queer scene in the city. While there is a large queer population and the city and Canberra are progressive and accepting, he wanted to see a place for the community to really call home.
“I want ChiChiz to be not just a bar, but a home for people… a place of our own, I want to be part of the fabric of the community,” Travis said.
“And I want it to be representative of all LGBTQ people: not just young people, not just fit people, not just people with money. A place where everyone feels welcome, no matter what: whether you’re well into your journey or just starting out.”
The team is hoping to open the doors in mid-December, with a party featuring live performances, exclusive cocktails, and a vibrant atmosphere that reflects the spirit of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Follow ChiChiz on Facebook or Instagram, or visit their ChiChiz to be the first to know when they open. ChiChiz is located at 32 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra.
