BY LIZ HYMAN | Walking into Sandy Jack’s, the first thing you’ll notice is the striking red all across the room. The wall, the letters on the glass window, and of course, the pool table, which was a favorite hobby of the owner’s. Looking up, you’ll see flowers, trophies, a giant TV, and a bulletin board announcing upcoming events.
Sitting at the bar top and chuckling across from his patrons was no other than Michael Thayer, a seventh-grade public school teacher who owns one of the queerest bars in Brooklyn.
“This is the greatest privilege of my life,” said Thayer, owner of Park Slope bar, Sandy Jack’s. Thayer and friends will celebrate the fifth anniversary of Sandy Jack’s this August.
In advance of that half-decade milestone, we asked Thayer to reflect on Sandy Jack’s success—not just as a hub for queer people, but also as a welcoming destination for the sober community. Since 2021, Thayer and his team have made it a point to serve non-alchoholic drinks as well as regular ol’ booze. And in 2025, they expanded the non-alcoholic choices to a full menu of mocktails.
“Being safe for everyone means being safe for the sober person,” said Thayer. “They don’t wanna look different [at a bar]. They don’t wanna look like they’re being sober.”
Thayer knows a thing or two about making everyone feel included. Before he owned a bar, Thayer was a middle school coach and social studies teacher. Thayer coached across multiple sports for three seasons, though he says that walking away from the coaching to pursue the bar was a tough call. He felt pulled between the two.
“I wasn’t showing up fully for the players and I wasn’t showing up fully for the bar.” Thayer said.
From the outset of its opening in 2021, inclusivity has been a priority. When Thayer incorporated sober options, he and his team tried to make drinks that had, as he said it with a smile, “a bunch of goofy names.”
These goofy names included mocktails like “Ur Mint to 2 Be” (a mint and ginger ale mixture with lime), and the “Young Fashion” (a mocktail play on an “Old Fashioned”).
In addition to their sober inclusivity, Sandy Jack’s also maintains a very queer and pride-centered atmosphere.
Every Brooklyn Pride, Sandy jack’s hosts an after-party. They also incorporate weekly drag performances, give out free condoms, and have a sign on the back wall that reads “In This Space, You Can Take Solace In Knowing That You Are Safe.” As a gay man himself, Thayer wanted to make sure this was a “queer space,” not just a bar.
He’s very proud of where Sandy Jack’s is today. “I feel like I GET to do this. Even if the floor needs repairs or the ice machine needs cleaning…I GET to do this.”
As Michael leaves the bartop, he greets other patrons, as they embrace him warmly.
Sandy Jack’s is located at 683 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215 (between 20th & 21st Streets). Phone: 585-474-1849. Website: sandyjacks.com.IG:@sandyjacksnyc.
Note: Sandy Jack’s has created a GoFundMe to help sustain its community programming and keep its shows and events accessible.
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