by cabeef » Sun Sep 04, 2011 1:49 pm
Since the topic is called "Gay & Lesbian Lost Fresno," I wanted to add: GORDICK'S BOOKSTORE (!!)
While it later moved to Fig Garden Village, it was Gordick's original location in the OPUS 1 shopping mall (corner of Bullard & Palm) that really had influence in the local gay & lesbian literary world. I was a young teen when I first started regularly hanging out at the bookstore and became close friends with co-owners and partners Gordon and Dick = hence the name "Gordick's" - back in the early 80s, they were just about the only legit bookstore in Fresno that had its own dedicated gay & lesbian lit section - and often hosted local and out of town authors - for example: I remember going to a book signing for "The Mayor of Castro Street: The Life & Times of Harvey Milk" with the late author Randy Shilts and similar events.
This wasn't just a place to buy books, it the subtext of the store is that, in plain sight, it also served as a meeting place/hub for like-minded gays and lesbians searching for a community to call their own - it was one of the few open/welcoming spots to ID as gay in the early 80s in Fresno - but still appeal to mainstream consumers/audience - and for that, I think that Gordick's was vital to local Fresno gay/lesbian scene. When Gordicks moved from Opus 1 to Fig Garden down the street, it was into a bigger space, but I believe the store went more "mainstream" then - it later closed in the late 80s (?), as I recall that either Gordon or Dick (or both?) passed away. RIP
Since the topic is called "Gay & Lesbian Lost Fresno," I wanted to add: GORDICK'S BOOKSTORE (!!)
While it later moved to Fig Garden Village, it was Gordick's original location in the OPUS 1 shopping mall (corner of Bullard & Palm) that really had influence in the local gay & lesbian literary world. I was a young teen when I first started regularly hanging out at the bookstore and became close friends with co-owners and partners Gordon and Dick = hence the name "Gordick's" - back in the early 80s, they were just about the only legit bookstore in Fresno that had its own dedicated gay & lesbian lit section - and often hosted local and out of town authors - for example: I remember going to a book signing for "The Mayor of Castro Street: The Life & Times of Harvey Milk" with the late author Randy Shilts and similar events.
This wasn't just a place to buy books, it the subtext of the store is that, in plain sight, it also served as a meeting place/hub for like-minded gays and lesbians searching for a community to call their own - it was one of the few open/welcoming spots to ID as gay in the early 80s in Fresno - but still appeal to mainstream consumers/audience - and for that, I think that Gordick's was vital to local Fresno gay/lesbian scene. When Gordicks moved from Opus 1 to Fig Garden down the street, it was into a bigger space, but I believe the store went more "mainstream" then - it later closed in the late 80s (?), as I recall that either Gordon or Dick (or both?) passed away. RIP