Chris Shaw: An Architect of Community

By JP Emerson

My name is Chris Shaw and I live here in beautiful Hillcrest. I am part owner of Urban MO’s, Baja Betty’s, Gossip Grill, Hillcrest Brewing Company and insideOUT. 

BECOMING A BUSINESS OWNER IN HILLCREST

I had a big nightclub down on Hancock Street, it’s currently Spin nightclub, we built that from the ground up, it was called WCPC and after my partnership deteriorated, I ended up moving up to Hillcrest and he kept the nightclub. In 1992 we opened Kickers, a country western bar and the reason for that was because I couldn’t compete with my old night club so at first it was country western seven nights a week. We had a ball at Kickers for five years and then we detoured into one night being disco themed which eventually led to different kinds of music all the time, it’s just one fun vibe!

WHAT HILLCREST MEANS 

Hillcrest is kind of like my home because ever since I was 21, I’ve been a part of it. It has been the center of my universe for pretty much all my life, so it means a lot to me, it’s a very important part of my life. 

THE EVOLUTION OF THE COMMUNITY

It’s gotten bigger and better but of course there’s been a lot of changes to some of the bars but it’s pretty much stayed Hillcrest. The Hillcrest Street sign was dilapidated, so we raised funds to get a new one. It’s always an evolution and I think it’s going to continue to evolve with the community for years to come with the new park being built at Pride Plaza and the flag that we got put up, all of the improvements that we do in Hillcrest just to make it a better, safer place for everybody. 

SHARING IN THE PURSUIT OF LGBTQ+ OWNED BUSINESSES

Well, they’re just so good, they’re good at what they do! Making them owners is just a “no brainer” and it’s pretty easy to do. We keep opening restaurants because we have an extraordinary staff, so we end up giving them that restaurant and making them owner and it’s their baby to take. Same with Gossip Grill, Moe was so incredible here at Baja Betty’s where she was a bartender and had such a huge following, so we opened up gossip Grill and made her part owner of it for the lesbian community and it just goes on and on. 

BEING NAMED AN INAUGURAL LUMINARY

It’s an extreme honor and of course I don’t think it’s necessary, I don’t do all this for the recognition, we do it all for the community.  We’re here to support our community and make sure our community is thriving. Hopefully the next generation sees that and continues on to create a bigger and better Hillcrest. 

HOPES FOR THE FUTURE

We have a pretty strong community as it is, I just hope that we continue to work together as a community and have better communication. I think communication is the key.

THE WORD IS

The WORD is Hillcrest! Hillcrest is life and it is fun.