Progress Bar Replacing Popular New Moon in Wilton Manors

New Moon will rise one day a week.

A new Wilton Manors bar is expected to open Labor Day weekend in the former home of New Moon, which closed in March after nine years serving South Florida lesbians. The owners of the Illinois-based Progress Bar, geared toward gay men, have not forgotten New Moon’s loyal patrons, however.

A ladies night, called “New Moon at Progress,” is planned for Wednesdays with three former New Moon bartenders.

“We want to retain the New Moon customers. They had a very strong clientele,” said Progress Bar general manager Justin Romme, standing in the bar’s patio during renovations. “We want everyone to come.”

Longtime patrons of New Moon mourned the loss of their watering hole. New Moon’s owner Carol Moran said she didn’t close because of a lack of support, but rather because the building was sold to Progress Bar and she wanted to move on.

Progress Bar is designed to bring a Chicago feel to the South Florida gay bar scene, Romme said.

“We felt that we saw a niche that wasn’t being filled per se in Wilton Manors,” Romme said. “Moving forward is kind of our mantra.”

The Progress Bar in Chicago is known for its deejays, music and one particular art installation — a giant cloud made of lightbulbs that hangs over the main bar near its front glass windows. You won’t find it here, though.

“We were limited by our ceiling height at the Wilton Manors location,” Romme said, pointing to a tiled drop ceiling in the new bar.

Instead of the island bars New Moon was known for, the new space has one long indoor bar with a sleek white countertop that lights up, as well as bar tables. Floors are wood-laminate, and a deejay box sits at the front of the dance floor. The patio also has a long bar under a canopy. In all, Progress Bar spent about $250,000 in renovations, Romme said.

In addition to the ladies’ night, Progress will be a mix of a club and bar the rest of the week.