WITH JOE MICCI AND RANDALL MCGEE by kevin plautz
LEATHER LOVIN’AT THE LOFT
The leather community now has a new place to
go in San Diego. The Loft Bar, a local Hillcrest water- ing hole since the late ‘70s, is breaking tradition on Thursdays with their new Leather Night. Bartender Joe Micci and barback Randall McGee, a couple for 10 years now, are here to welcome and make you feel right at home. The two former Chicago bartenders bring a certain charm to the job, challenging leather stereotypes.
THE RAGE MONTHLY SAT DOWN WITH JOE TO FIND OUT A BIT MORE ABOUT THEIR LIFE, LEATHER AND THE LOFT.
How long have you been working at The Loft? I’ve been at The Loft for around a year. I worked
security at first and started bartending for Leather Night around two months ago. Randall started work here a few months ago as a barback. Any problems working so close together with your boyfriend? We have not had any problems. Just like at home,
Randall does exactly as I tell him, hence, no prob- lems… LOL! It hasn’t been an issue. He is a great bar back and has tended bar in the past, so he is really fun to work with as well as hot to look at!
62 RAGE monthly | MAY 2014 | MAY 2014
The Loft recently started Leather Night on Thursdays, what makes it different from other leather nights? Andy Clark, the owner, has wanted to do a leather
night for years and he felt that the time was finally right. After speaking with customers, it became clear that there was a group that were interested and “leather-curious.” They’re not full-time “leathermen” but really wanted to explore the world, in a location that was very friendly and in which they felt comfort- able. This is where The Loft’s reputation really helped; it is a super-friendly bar with equally nice employees. And, we have a high percentage of regular customers who are a huge part of what The Loft truly is. What will we find on Thursday Nights when we walk in the door? The Loft has free pool, $3 shots, great music and
a free raffle drawing with great prizes provided by Adam & Eve in Hillcrest. Also, starting this month The Loft will offer draft beers on leather night. Tell us a little bit about Andy, the owner. Andy is a fantastic guy to work for and work with.
He loves The Loft and has a very loyal group of em- ployees, which he takes very good care of. He’s been working really hard on keeping The Loft a fun, fresh place for his customers.
What was the most fun you and Randall have ever had together at the bar? One of the best was the first time we came in. We
were visiting from Chicago scouting out a place to live when we moved here. We had been looking at apartments all day and we just wanted to sit and relax and have a beer and the first bar we came across was The Loft. We loved it because it’s a great neighbor- hood bar and the coolest thing was the people we met. Before we knew it we were laughing, telling jokes, singing show tunes and swapping stories with several of the “regulars.” It was an impromptu afternoon party and we have been coming back ever since. Tell us something that no one would know about you two... As for something that nobody knows about us...
We adopted a monkey from the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. We named him Jorell, a combination of both of our names. I know, it’s cheezy. We knew he was “our special monkey” when he first met us and flung a handful of his poop at us.
Ahh....kids.
The Loftis located at 3610 5th Avenue in Hillcrest and is open Monday thru Saturday starting at 11 a.m. and Sundays at 10 a.m. For more information call 619.296.6407
joe (left) & randall (right)
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