61-year-old Modesto bar announces immediate closure. ‘End of an era’
After 61 years, multiple ownership changes and a shift in atmosphere, Modesto’s Tiki Cocktail Lounge has closed.
Owner Tammy Maisetti announced on the bar’s Facebook and Instagram pages Tuesday afternoon that she would be closing the doors and “ending this chapter of (her) business journey” the same day as the announcement.
“This decision was not made lightly,” Maisetti wrote. “Over the years, we have had the immense privilege of serving you, getting to know your stories and becoming part of your lives.”
Many commenters shared memories of their experiences at the Tiki and their sadness that it was closing, calling it the “end of an era.”
Johnny Ramos, original owner of Tiki Lounge, opened the bar on 932 McHenry Ave. in April 1964. It remained at that location throughout its 61 years of business.
Though the crowd fluctuated over the years, the Tiki was last known as “an open lifestyle environment where people of all sexualities and genders can feel free to get together, have a few good cocktails and have a great time,” according to its Facebook description.
Cyriakus “Gus” Wagner became manager of the Tiki in September 2005, according to an article written by David Seymour of the McHenry Museum & Historical Society. At the time, Maisetti and her late husband, Mitch (1957-2014), were two of the bar’s co-owners.
Wagner developed rapport with some gay clientele, Seymour wrote, and said that by Halloween 2005, it “felt like a gay bar.” Wagner then began marketing the bar as such.
Seymour told The Bee Wednesday morning that since his article published, he has learned that “Roman Scanlon of CalPride also was part of the bar becoming queer oriented.”
“Be proud of the fact that you were the first gay bar on McHenry,” one Facebook user wrote on the post announcing the closure. “Never thought that would happen in my lifetime. We were not in the shadows anymore.”
Dillen Sweeten worked at Tiki for around five years, bartending and working security. He said he was saddened to hear of the closure.
“I bartended for almost 11 years and worked at quite a few bars,” Sweeten said. “Never had the same family experience like I had there.”
Maisetti did not give a reason for the sudden closure and could not be immediately reached for comment.
“Although we are saying goodbye to this business, the experiences and friendships formed here will stay with us forever,” she wrote. “We hope we’ve left you with the same warmth and care that you have shown us.”
This story was originally published July 1, 2025 at 5:06 PM.
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