By June 2016, he officially opened Alibi Lounge’s doors. Though Minko’s primary career was in law, he had experience opening bars in partnership with others. “ I walked about 20, 30, blocks, and I didn’t see anything that represented the LGBT image whatsoever.” I fell in love with my street,” Minko said. Minko, who is originally from Gabon, opened Alibi after moving to the neighborhood in 2015. The Harlem-based establishment is reportedly the last Black-owned gay bar in New York City. “I was wondering, was it worth it?”īut after a prolific GoFundMe campaign and what he describes as a renewed sense of responsibility, Minko said Alibi Lounge is thriving, even in the middle of a pandemic. “I was 75% done with the business,” Minko said to NowThis. When the coronavirus temporarily shuttered businesses across the country, Alexi Minko was nearly ready to give up on his bar, Alibi Lounge.