The Mercantile Saloon

The Mercantile Saloon, or “the Merc,” has been part of Sacramento’s LGBTQ+ scene since 1976, when it opened in a converted Victorian house on L Street. During the 1980s, owner Ernie Brown helped establish the bar as an important gathering place for Sacramento’s gay Black community, at a time when many other venues were less welcoming.

Today, the Merc is a small, proudly local gay bar with a covered patio, pool table and jukebox. There’s no food or event programme here; come for strong drinks, good company, and the music.