OpEd: Thank you Michael Neimeyer

The famed Micky’s West Hollywood has new owners. Michael Niemeyer bid farewell to staff and turned over the keys to Dale Warner and Ruben Lopez on Monday afternoon. Warner and Lopez are the owners of Hamburger Mary’s in West Hollywood and Long Beach. The plan is to reopen this weekend as Micky’s with new additions to the menu and daytime hours.

The sale of the business has been pending for some time. It was early September when Michael Niemeyer called to share the news. Micky’s would be closing “this Sunday” — Michael wanted to let me know before he told his staff, – the changover was delayed a few weeks but the news shook me to the core.    

The sale of Micky’s followed the changeover of the Abbey/Chapel, Revolver, Rage/Heart, Gym Bar, St. Felix, and Flaming Saddles. All my neighbors were gone, but nobody is as special as Michael Niemeyer.

The Micky’s crew arrives early in the morning to clean and sanitize the patio and set up the party theme of the day. Micky’s is like a Broadway show, and I had a front-row seat to the love and passion that Michael and his staff bestowed upon our community every single day. There is no other bar that celebrates gay life and WeHo the way Niemeyer’s Micky’s did.

I’ve watched Michael as a business owner, a community pillar, and a good neighbor and friend. In every regard, he has been there for all of us. Micky’s represented the pulse of WeHo, and BlockParty was lucky enough to dance with them. We celebrated the city together. Michael never spared a dime to bring all the holidays to life. The decor, the energy, and the love that generated from the patio to the world were unique to only Micky’s. But today, we turn a page.

Michael made sure his crew knew that BlockParty wasn’t just the store next door. If there was an issue, there was a standing order to make sure we addressed it in real-time. Micky’s was our protector. Micky’s security would watch our staff if any problems arose or stop a shoplifter. Mornings included cleaning vomit or needles off the sidewalks, and broken bottles, blood, or feces off the pavement. The morning after the night tells a different story each sunrise. The partnership we shared every day, every night, and every weekend to combat homelessness, pickpockets, and multiple public safety issues brought us closer together. I’m going to miss Michael and the good old days. There is no better friend or neighbor.

There was a time when BlockParty was going to lose our lease.   Michael offered to to carve out a little spot inside the Micky’s space for all those. necessities. The kindness, the care, the love — he was not only on our side, Micky’s was often the wind at our back. BlockParty piggybacked any special event, and Micky’s dancers were always the best undressed dancers on the street. We celebrated WeHo together.

It was not easy to hold in the news for the past weeks. Brandon did this amazing story on Michael Niemeyer, and the call finally came. “Larry, we want you to take a photo of us.” I waited outside as Dale and Ruben, the new owners, followed Michael out the door. The time had come to say goodbye to my friend and an era. The time had come to welcome Dale and Ruben, two great guys who bring hope that we can all rebuild and hold on to fight another day.

Thank you, Michael, for all you do. You are a beloved soul of our city. Enjoy a well-deserved retirement, we will miss you but Micky’s will keep on dancing with you in our hearts!