The Obituary of GLOU
Remembering a Life
It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of a beloved treasure of the Providence community. Taken before her time, on Saturday 28th, Glou cocktail bar sadly passed away. The night was cold. Emory, the owner, informed The L00king Glass that he is moving to New York. And just like that — the candle-lit gem on Ives is no longer with us.
The news has sent the Brown and RISD student bodies reeling.
Since Glou’s passing, its Instagram stories have featured traumatic footage of the bar being dismembered and sold for parts. On the last day of this garage sale graveyard, I went to gather Glou’s staff’s thoughts on the loss.
Standing among the bar’s remains, Hal, (Glou’s chef and maker of their famous chocolate chip cookies) commented: “it’s heartbreaking.” and reflected on their most popular creations “the bloody mary devilled eggs” and the “Maitake sandwhich” made with their own sourdough brioche. The RISD sculpture grad’s food creations live on in @hals.tiny.kitchen
Bartender Sofia also reminisced on the glory days of her most sought after cocktail ‘The Floor is Lava’ which apparently people “still ask her about.” We also discussed the tragic loss of the ‘Pink Flamingo,’ a drink I have already expressed my feelings about in our Where to Drink guide.
In Glou’s final hours, its most devoted admirers gathered together to mourn and drink its delicacies one last time.
The L00king Glass would like to share a selection of kind words offered at the Glou-neral
Glou, oh Glou
How we will miss you
No bar will ever dazzle like you do
(did.)
“Glou was the glue that brought us all together. Without Glou, there’s no bonds.” – W. Williamson
“Glou to me is a feeling. It’s butterflies before the main function. It’s secret whispers with the girls. It’s being slightly scared of knocking over everything in this damn room. It’s also being young and free. I love you Glou.” – R. Yanowitch (* proceeds to start singing Let Her Go by Passenger.”)
“Glou is somewhere special for us. It’s where a lot of relationships with our friends started and a lot of sparks ignited in our lives at Brown.” – A. Baumer
“BAR. Beautiful. Atmospheric. Ravenous.” He takes a deep breath. “One place. One community. One soul. I loved Glou. Remind your friends to support your local businesses and go out to the bar instead of drinking at home.” – E. Horwitch
“This was like the first bar we went to. It was our first Providence bar.” – J. White
“Glou’s really been through all the different phases of our friends’ experience. Sitting outside in the summer here with a big group was so perfect. It’s really just a place of connection.” – A. Moses
“Legends drink at Glou. Heroes. Oh my god, and the olives here are so yummy. I’ll miss them so much. I had the best dirty martini of my life here just a mere two weeks ago,” (wistful pause…) “and the chocolate chip cookie was so good.” – C. Kanders
“Glou is the epitome of union. Even though they have kicked us out before.” – G. Paraskeva
“I’m so devastated. I’ve just found out about this terrible news. I live on this side of town, and it’s been really nice to have such a sweet place that can be both very gentle and quiet and fun and busy.” – Alexa no. 2, a RISD grad student.
“This is our bar.” Looks despondently at Alexa 2. “ We come here very regularly to bond and catch up, so I don’t know what will replace it now.” – Tori, who works at the RISD museum
Glou can never be replaced.
“So many great conversations in this place. It’s the girly fun bar that brings people together in the candlelight. And there was this one bartender who had all these tattoos of Barbara Streisand…” – G. Belgrader
Many of the mourning community took time to mention the wide variety of dates – good and bad — that this historic site provided.
“I think it’s pretty tragic that we’re losing Glou. Because every single one of my 7 roommates has gone on a date here. It’s a shared experience.” – L. Byrd
However several attendees cited the notorious “Glou Curse”— the urban legend holding that the majority of the bar’s first dates rarely result in a second…
Our journalism at the Glou-neral investigated:
Of the 11 dates reported, 2 blossomed into relationships.
1 relationship is still standing.
(This editor herself was in fact, kicked out of Glou on a date…. we did not see each other again.)
“So Glou isn’t about finding your man. It’s about the nights you spend with your friends.” – M. Dominguez.
“I can bear witness to the end of the infamous first dates at Glou.” J. Puig
Alas, along with maybe one relationship, Glou leaves behind a strong legacy of chatting and union over delectable colorful cocktails.
On this solemn day, let us take a moment to think of all who held the bar closely in their hearts, and pray that Emory may resurrect the Pink Flamingo in New York…
We hold Glou forever in our hearts.
And I will hold tightly to these coasters I snagged from the graveyard sale… my last remnant of a life well lived.
BY MISS R. SÉLAVY