Midnight Sun began its journey in the vibrant 1970s at 506 Castro Street, most recently home to the now-closed Body Shop. In 1981, we moved to our current location around the corner at 4067 18th Street.
Originally a windowless plumbing warehouse, the new venue transformed into a lively social hub, pioneering the concept of a video bar at the same time as the rise of MTV. Our screens showcased music videos, interspersed with clips from popular shows like Queer as Folk and Sex in the City.
While Twin Peaks Tavern made history in 1972 as the first gay bar in San Francisco to install plate glass windows, Midnight Sun bookended this history in 2011 by becoming the last gay bar in the Castro to add windows, embracing openness and visibility, and contributing to the rich tapestry of San Francisco’s LGBTQIA+ history.
