Downtown in Nashville in Davidson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

The Jungle and Juanita's

First Gay Bars in Nashville

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 4, 2020

1. The Jungle and Juanita's Marker

Inscription. Warren Jett opened The Jungle, a restaurant and cocktail bar, at 715 Commerce Street in 1952. Next door, Juanita Brazier opened Juanita's Place, a beer bar, in 1956. By the early 1960s, both were known as the first gay bars in Nashville. Jett sold The Jungle in 1960, after his brother, Leslie E. Jett, was elected sheriff. In 1963, 27 men were arrested for "disorderly behavior" in a raid at Juanita's. Gay men continued to gather at both bars until 1983, when the block was leveled.

Erected 2018 by The Historical Commission of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County. (Marker Number 184.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Civil Rights • Industry & Commerce • Law Enforcement. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee, The Historical Commission of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1952.

Location. 36° 9.623′ N, 86° 46.942′ W. Marker is in Nashville, Tennessee, in Davidson County. It is in Downtown. It is on Commerce Street just east of Rosa L. Parks Boulevard (U.S. 31), on the right when traveling east.

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Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 715 Commerce Street, Nashville TN 37203, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Middle Tennessee.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Vine Street Temple (within shouting distance of this marker); Berger Building / WDAD Radio Station “Where Dollars are Doubled” (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Baptist Sunday School Board Building (about 300 feet away); Smith House (about 400 feet away); Ward's Seminary (about 400 feet away); Bettie Mae Page (about 400 feet away); Randall Jarrell (about 500 feet away); Hume-Fogg High School (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nashville.

Also see . . .
1. Last Call at Juanita's.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 4, 2020

2. The Jungle and Juanita's Marker

Nashville Scene article about Juanita Brazier (Submitted on April 6, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. Nashville’s First Gay Bars to Be Memorialized With a Historical Marker. Nashville Scene article (Submitted on April 6, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 6, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 1,645 times since then and 73 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 6, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.