Slammers

{{Short description|Lesbian bar in Columbus, Ohio}} {{Infobox venue | name = Slammers Bar & Pizza Kitchen | native_name = | native_name_lang = | nickname = | logo_image = | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | image = Slammers Bar & Pizza Kitchen.jpg | image_size = | image_upright = | image_alt = | caption = Slammers Bar exterior in 2022 | image_map = | map_size = | map_alt = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_mapsize = | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_relief = | fullname = | former_names = | address = | city = [[Columbus, Ohio]] | country = U.S. | location = | coordinates = {{Coord|39|57|57|N|82|59|44.4|W|region:US-OH|display=inline,title}} | elevation =  | public_transit = | parking = | owner = | operator = | designation = | type = [[Lesbian bar]] | event = | seating_type = | suites = | capacity = | record_attendance = | dimensions = | field_shape = | acreage = | surface = | scoreboard = | screens = | current_use = | production = | broke_ground = | built = | opened = 1993 | renovated = | expanded = | closed = | demolished = | rebuilt = | years_active = | cost = | architect = | builder = | project_manager = | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | general_contractor = | main_contractors = | tenants = | website =  | embedded = }}

'''Slammers Bar & Pizza Kitchen''' is a [[lesbian bar]] in [[Columbus, Ohio]]. Opened in 1993, it is one of Ohio's oldest gay bars and is still run by its original owner Marcia Riley.<ref name="erica">{{cite news |last1=Thompson |first1=Erica |title=Behind Bars: Nikki Simonin at Slammers |url=https://www.columbusalive.com/entertainment/20170510/behind-bars-nikki-simonin-at-slammers |access-date=26 June 2021 |work=Columbus Alive |date=10 May 2017 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="thompson" /> {{As of|2021}}, it is one of approximately thirty-three lesbian bars remaining in the country and the only one in Ohio. It was supported by the [[Lesbian Bar Project]] to help it survive the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="bailey">{{cite news |last1=Bailey |first1=Brittany |title=Slammers standing strong as one of few lesbian bars left in the country |url=https://www.10tv.com/article/news/local/slammers-standing-strong-as-one-of-few-lesbian-bars-left-in-the-country/530-c55b9160-b672-4673-8161-f0384eb51d67 |access-date=26 June 2021 |work=10tv.com |date=11 June 2021}}</ref><ref name="llbs">{{cite news |last1=Thompson |first1=Erica |title=Pride: Last lesbian bar standing |url=https://www.columbusalive.com/entertainment/20190612/pride-last-lesbian-bar-standing |access-date=26 June 2021 |work=Columbus Alive |date=12 June 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

As has been the case with lesbian bars across the United States, Slammers has needed to evolve to adapt to the changing LGBTQ+ nightlife scene.<ref name="thompson">{{cite news |last1=Thompson |first1=Erica |title=Slammers, one of 15 lesbian bars left in U.S., weathers pandemic, cultural shifts in Columbus |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2021/04/12/columbus-slammers-among-few-remaining-lesbian-bars-u-s/7114853002/ |access-date=26 June 2021 |work=The Columbus Dispatch |date=12 April 2021}}</ref><ref name="mattson">{{cite journal |last1=Mattson |first1=Greggor |title=Are Gay Bars Closing? Using Business Listings to Infer Rates of Gay Bar Closure in the United States, 1977–2019 |journal=Socius: Sociological Research for a Dynamic World |date=January 2019 |volume=5 |pages=237802311989483 |article-number=2378023119894832 |doi=10.1177/2378023119894832 |doi-access=free }}</ref> While it began as a women's bar, early on it drew a business lunch crowd.<ref name="pbs">{{cite news |title=21 lesbian bars remain in America. Owners share why they must be protected |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/21-lesbian-bars-remain-in-the-america-owners-share-why-they-must-be-protected |access-date=26 June 2021 |work=PBS NewsHour |date=2021-06-10 |language=en-us}}</ref>

==Slammie's on High== In 2022, the owners of Slammers opened Slammie's on High, near the Ohio State campus,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-01-24 |title=Slammies on High to bring fresh pizza and LGBTQ+ space to Ohio State |language=en-US |url=https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/columbus/slammies-on-high-to-bring-fresh-pizza-and-lgbtq-space-to-ohio-state/ |access-date=2023-04-28}}</ref> which is also an LGBTQ+ friendly space but serves different food to the original location.<ref name="McLaughlin">{{Cite news |last=McLaughlin |first=Jack |date=2022-12-01 |title=Slammers opening new Columbus-style pizzeria and bar in recently-closed restaurant |language=en-US |url=https://614now.com/2022/food-drink/slammers-opening-new-columbus-style-pizzeria-and-bar-in-recently-closed-restaurant |access-date=2023-04-28}}</ref> It opened in March 2023 and closed in June 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-04-14 |title=Columbus' newest LGBTQ+ bar Slammies is a 'safe space for all to come in' |language=en-US |url=https://www.thelantern.com/2023/04/columbus-newest-lgbtq-bar-slammies-is-a-safe-space-for-all-to-come-in/ |access-date=2023-04-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=2024-09-18|title=Slammies on High closes, replaced by pizza place|language=en-US|url=https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/columbus/slammies-on-high-closes-replaced-by-pizza-place/|access-date=2025-10-12}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

== External links == *{{official website|http://slammersbar.com/}}

[[Category:1993 establishments in Ohio]] [[Category:Lesbian bars in the United States]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Ohio]] [[Category:Drinking establishments in Ohio]] [[Category:Women in Ohio]] [[Category:Companies based in the Columbus metropolitan area, Ohio]] [[Category:LGBTQ in Ohio]]