On August 11th, OutWest Bar at 5401 California Ave SW, will celebrate a milestone: Their first anniversary in business. Owners Bob Lunke and Chad Gabelein said they've been successful thus far due to, "the marvelous work of the tireless team of Joe, Josh, Holly, Nich, Rich, and Shannon, and most entirely to our unfailing patrons who believe in the OutWest Bar as the “LGBTQA community center with adult beverages in West Seattle."

Gabelein said he was excited about the wider awareness that Outwest has achieved too.

"When we marched in the Pride parade this year (our second year, as we also marched last year two months before opening) we were thrilled with the cheering reception of supporters from all over the city and region and knew we’d done a good thing."

Gabelein continued, "We feel very welcome in West Seattle (especially as many of us have personally lived here more than a decade or so) and feel warmly accepted into the larger community. We believe our presence has encouraged a healthy conversation about difference and tolerance in our age and area. We truly are the gay frontier, and as good neighbors we embrace our dual responsibility of honest communication and to advance businesses and provide jobs in West Seattle by continuing to promote local stores and restaurants to our LGBTQA patrons and beyond."

It was their goal to create a "small, local, comfortable, neighborhood LGBTQA focused but straight friendly bar”, and they believe they've done it.

The anniversary celebration will take place over two nights, August 10 and 11, opening at 4pm. They will have drink specials, Video DJ Andy and a sparkling wine toast at midnight on Aug. 11.

Visit Outwest online at www.outwestbar.com.