In Pittsburgh’s Polish Hill neighborhood, a modest two-story building near the base of Herron Avenue sits empty, its doors closed since 2022. For decades, the space was home to a series of bars and nightclubs, ultimately known as Donny’s Place, that served as critical hubs for LGBTQ+ life in the city. Now, community activists are working to ensure this historic site is not lost to gentrification or development pressures, advocating for its designation as a historic landmark.
Lizzie Anderson and Matt Cotter, two Polish Hill residents, spearheaded the effort to nominate the building for historic designation. Backed by the nonprofit Preservation Pittsburgh and local historian Dade Lemanski, the nomination aims to preserve a space they describe as “an anchor of gay life in Pittsburgh for almost fifty years.” If approved, it would become Western Pennsylvania’s first historic landmark recognizing LGBTQ+ history.
The story of Donny’s Place is deeply tied to its founder, Donald “Donny” Thinnes, who passed away on January 20, 2024, at the age of 76. A Vietnam veteran, Thinnes entered Pittsburgh’s gay bar scene in the late 1960s, working as a liquor runner for legendary gay club owner Robert “Lucky” Johns. In 1973, Thinnes purchased the building on Herron Avenue and transformed it into a safe haven for LGBTQ+ people during an era of widespread discrimination and police raids.
Thinnes was a founding member of the Pittsburgh Tavern Guild, a coalition of LGBTQ+ bar owners that supported local LGBTQ-owned businesses and public health initiatives, such as the Pitt Men’s Study during the HIV/AIDS epidemic. He was also instrumental in the formation of organizations like the former Delta Foundation and former Lambda Foundation, helping to build a network of resources for Pittsburgh’s early queer community.
Beyond his business and advocacy efforts, Thinnes earned a reputation for his generosity. He hosted holiday dinners for LGBTQ+ individuals who had been ostracized by their families and organized fundraisers that supported causes ranging from public health to children’s hospitals. His work left an enduring mark on Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ+ landscape, though his bar, like many others, was often shaped by the complexities of the era and the tensions within the community.
The bar’s significance extends far beyond its walls. Donny’s Place, first opened in 1973, operated under various names over the decades — from the Norreh to Leather Central. It provided more than just a space for nightlife; it was a lifeline for Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ+ community during times of widespread discrimination and crisis.
During the 1980s, as the HIV/AIDS epidemic devastated queer communities, Donny’s Place became a hub for the Pitt Men’s Study, facilitating HIV research and education. The bar’s ties to the Pittsburgh Tavern Guild fostered cooperation among LGBTQ+ businesses and support for community events, advocacy, and public health efforts.
“This place wasn’t just a bar; it functioned as a community center,” Lemanski told WESA, who has documented the site’s historical importance. “It helped build the relational and institutional infrastructure of gay life in Pittsburgh.”
In an October nomination form, Anderson and Cotter highlighted the building’s importance at a time when many historic LGBTQ+ spaces are being erased. “Sites of gay life are threatened and disappearing due to encroaching development,” they wrote. Indeed, Donny’s Place faces such a threat: since 2019, developer Laurel Communities has proposed replacing the property with market-rate townhouses, sparking concerns about gentrification in the neighborhood.
Although the Polish Hill Civic Association initially opposed the project, it has since softened its stance, indicating it might support development if it includes affordable housing. Anderson and Cotter, however, argue that preserving the site is vital, not only to honor LGBTQ+ history but also to provide a vision for its future.
One idea floated by supporters is converting the space into affordable housing for queer and trans elders. “The first goal is to save the building,” Anderson told WESA, “because we know all the beauty and history that has happened there.”
The nomination process has already brought the community together. A Change.org petition calling for the site’s preservation has garnered widespread support, and on December 16, activists made their case to the city’s Historic Review Commission. The process is expected to continue well into Spring 2025.
For now, the nomination places a temporary halt on demolition plans. However, uncertainty remains, as the property is still owned by Thinnes’ estate, which is reportedly under contract to sell the site.
Donny’s Place is not just a relic of the past; it represents a history of resistance, resilience, and care. By securing its preservation, activists hope to honor the legacy of the countless queer individuals who found community within its walls and to provide a space that continues to serve Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ+ population.
“This isn’t just about a building,” Lemanski said during a public meeting. “It’s about creating space for life.”
The fight to designate Donny’s Place as a historic landmark is part of a larger effort to preserve the stories and spaces that have shaped Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ+ history. As the nomination process moves forward, the community’s determination underscores the importance of remembering and protecting these vital pieces of queer heritage.
