YOUR FAVORITE LOGO TV SHOWS ARE ON PARAMOUNT+

Key West Gay Bar Feeds Hundreds In Wake Of Hurricane Irma

“My father taught me to take care of myself and my family so I can take care of my community."

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name—as long as your name isn't Irma.

While many Key West businesses remain closed in the wake of Hurricane Irma's devastation, 801 Bourbon Bar has opened its doors for a good cause.

Owner Jim Gilleran reopened his Duval Street gay bar just hours after Irma blew past the Florida Keys, providing a place of respite and a hot meal for those affected by the Category 4 storm, the Palm Beach Post reports.

Facebook

With his generator running, Gilleran has been serving 700-800 free meals a day to "sweaty, unshowered, hungry residents" since Tuesday. Bar staff has also been giving out food and toiletries donated by CVS.

“My father taught me to take care of myself and my family so I can take care of my community,” says Gilleran, a resident of the LGBT-friendly vacation spot for 25 years.

Although most bars on Duval are boarded up, the surrounding streets were quickly cleared by city public works employees and neighbors. A CNBC reporter on the scene describes Key West residents as having "a certain resilience that rivals their commitment to tasting every last drop of joy life has to offer."

Latest News