We interviewed owner Ken Schultz about what the Backlot offers the community, and what changes they’ve seen in the community over the past 2 years.

“I think what makes us different is that 90% of the people who come here are regulars. I still have people who come here from when they came in day 1 in 1996. What I hear the most from my customers is that it’s nice to come in and actually have a conversation, either with the staff or their able to have a conversation amongst themselves because it’s not overly loud. Everybody’s just so friendly here, people here treat it like their home, and that’s what Backlot’s about.”

“Anybody who wants to use my patio and barbecue for any kind of fundraiser – it’s open to everybody for fundraising. It’s the Court and ARGRA primarily that I support right now. My upstairs, people have always been able to have it for a private party if they want to, and I have birthdays, anniversaries…anybody who wants to use the space for their event [is welcome].”

“What I like about what’s happening in the community is it seems…that there’s a definite venue catering to like a young crowd, a mixed straight crowd, or a leather crowd, or an older crowd that doesn’t want to go dancing necessarily. …I really like that Calgary has more bars that do cater to a specific type of niche. As far as the Backlot is concerned, during the anniversary it was a good opportunity for me to be on [the other side] of the bar and to wander around and have a little bit less structured chat with customers and friends. I realized that people have been coming here for so many years and still consider it a comfortable place to go, and I’m really happy with that… There haven’t been a lot of changes as far as staff or as far as the interior of it. …It’s just been business as usual.”

Backlot celebrated their 9th anniversary just last month on October 19th.

The Backlot
209 10th Avenue SW
(403) 265-5211



Classification: Bar
Typical Crowd: Gay male, occasionally lesbians
Typical Age Range: 25 and up.
Established: 1996
Sq. Footage: 1600 sq. ft.
Floors: 2 (main, upstairs)
Approx. Capacity: 100
Consumables: Alcoholic beverages, Food Available
Entertainment: GayCalgary.com Internet Terminal, Pool Table (1), Touch-screen Games.
Activities: Conversation.