Outwest, the new LBGTQA bar in West Seattle located at 5401 California Ave. SW was crowded with enthusiastic customers during the beginning of their soft opening. Outwest will be open six days a week, Tuesday through Sunday from 4:00 p.m. to midnight. The opening marks the end of a two year process for owners Bob Lunke and Chad Gabelein. Check out our story about it here:

Papa John's Pizza across the street delivered several free pizzas to welcome their new neighbors.

"We have a very large LGBTQA community out here," said Lunke, a youthful 50. (The "A" stands for "allies" or straight supporters.)

Lunke was a banker for 16 years, and was in the Army Reserves for 30 years.

"We have over 700 friends on Facebook," he enthused. "We're still feeling out when we will do our grand opening. It's very exciting. This is the American dream. This is a small business in this (challenging) economy."

"We are really excited to have a gay and lesbian establishment in the neighborhood," said Dawn Leverett, a real estate agent at Windermere-West Seattle in the Alaska Junction and former Board President for the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce. "Small businesses are the backbone of the economy."

"Come down on Wednesday night," said her partner, Lisa Laughlin, a web developer. "I will be the guest greeter for 'Lesbian Night'." (That's planned for Wednesday nights.)

Another lesbian couple at the bar pointed out to the West Seattle Herald that men greatly outnumbered women and were concerned it would become a male-oriented gay bar and that perhaps in the future they might be made to feel as outsiders. They mentioned such bars on The Hill (Capitol Hill) where such divisions have occurred in gay and lesbian bars.

One male patron, Ford, who lives in Top Hat, said Outwest will be different than gay bars on Capitol Hill.

"We're suburban gay people," he said. "It doesn't matter whether you're male or female. We're all together here fighting the same fight, waving our rainbow flags in front of our homes, all getting along. We're having the same goal in mind, to live our lives as gay people."

"The bottom line is this bar is here to serve the community," said Scott from Sand Point. "West Seattle has the highest gay population outside Capitol Hill. It's not going to be as divided as the gay bars on The Hill. Bob's gone out on a limb. He deserves our business. Come and support him."