East Nashville's now legendary Lipstick Lounge opened its doors on September 6, 2002. The vision of local portrait artist Jonda Valentine, the Lipstick Lounge has since become a home and haven for human beings throughout the entire Nashville community.
Founded by Jonda along with her twin sister Ronda Landers, Ronda's partner Traci Oliver, and friend Pam Sheffer, the Lip was definitely designed with women in mind. Yes, Lord love you, four lesbians with no restaurant experience decide to open a bar. The bookmakers were skeptical about our potential for success, needless to say.
But they opened anyway, to huge fanfare and an immediate embrace by Nashville's female gay community. In early 2003, Christa Suppan came in as general manager, bringing a lifetime of experience in the hospitality industry: she's been working in bars since she was a child, in the Illinois tavern run by her grandparents. Things began to take shape with innovative marketing, and the acclaim and notoriety started pouring in.
Lipstick was originally purely a lesbian bar. Some folks still think of it that way, and, make no mistake, The Lip remains the social center of the grrrrl community here in Middle Tennessee. But very soon, patrons began telling all their friends— female and male, gay and straight, black, white and other — about how fantastic the place is, and now we sport a clientele that is as varied and diverse as the East Nashville neighborhood that we call home. In fact, CitySearch has named the Lipstick Lounge as Nashville's Best Neighboorhood Bar: proof positive it isn't just for lesbians anymore.
On any given night, the very mixed, from every corner of the area, and transcending distinctions of class or social status. The evidence tells us that we have touched a nerve with a vast public looking for a place to feel welcome. We like to advertise Lipstick as a bar for humans.
The attitude here is a welcoming, friendly environment that feels like home. We remind our patrons that Lipstick is, above all, a place to relax and have fun.
Owners
Christa Suppan
and Jonda Valentine
Christa
with partner
Kathleen Smith
Jonda
with partner
Rachel Eskridge
Recently, Ronda went back to nursing and wanted to spend more time with her family. So Jonda and Christa are now 50/50 partners in the business, and Ronda still fronts the house band every other Friday night. The Lounge and its owners are even keel, and everybody's happy.
Christa is Lipstick's business mind, and tends bar with a skill that can best be described as theatrical. "I may not remember everyone's name, but I know faces and what everyone drinks," says Christa. Patrons are often amazed to find their drink of choice being held out to them as they step up to the bar, even if they've only visited Lipstick a time or two before.
Jonda serves as our gabby hostess, and she's a magnet for people. "I really do care about the people who come in here. We talk, and I get their love returned to me. Bars and churches are a place of fellowship, and really not all that different."
What's next? A major renovation and expansion of the space are planned, and Jonda is keeping mum about the direction the girls are planning to go, but it will be vibrant and colorful. "Like a painted lady," she says.
Response to the lounge has been tremendous. The Lipstick Lounge has consistently been awarded accolades in articles, readers' polls and surveys from such sources as USA Today, the Tennessean, CitySearch, the Nashville Scene, the Freedom Press and Out & About.
But don't take our word for it. Come on in, and see that all the rumors are true. Like we always say, "Whatever you think it is, it's more."