by Evelyn Bailey
“Hello Darling, how are you?”
These common words are spoken warmly and sincerely by an uncommon man who really wants to know. Peter Mohr, the new owner of the Bachelor Forum, greets his customers with this question all the time.
He describes the Forum as a neighborhood bar where everyone is welcome. The Bachelor Forum’s customers are more than just faces in a crowd to Peter. He takes an interest in people, and wants his customers to feel comfortable and at “home” when they walk through the door.
In a deal put together by Peter S. Mohr, the executors of the estates of Richard Towner and Arnold Pegish agreed to sell him The Bachelor Forum, Inc. Peter began working at the Bachelor Forum in 1999. In September, 2001 he was promoted to bar manager. In August, 2008 Peter became the new owner of the Bachelor Forum.
The Bachelor Forum opened in 1973 on East Main Street in Rochester, New York. The bar moved in 1989 to its current location at 670 University Ave, in the heart of ArtWalk. The Bachelor Forum is Rochester's oldest gay owned and operated bar and is a landmark of the local gay community. Peter wants the Forum to be a friendly, no-attitude bar and gathering place for the area's leather/levi and bear communities. He is proud the Forum is the official home bar of the Rochester Rams M.C. and the Empire Bears fraternity.
So – who is Peter Mohr? Born in Newark, Peter graduated from Midlakes High School. Since then, Peter has worked in the computer field, the automobile industry, and the bar business as a bouncer, bar tender, bar manager and now owner.
Peter came out the year that Friars closed. He has done volunteer work at AIDS Rochester as a Buddy and at the Red Cross. Peter has donated his time, and the bar’s resources to the GAGV’s Dining Out With Friends event and the GREAT Bowling Tournament as well as other events in the community.
Currently Peter lives in Corn Hill with his partner Rob, his cat Sassy, and wonderful dog Trevor. He is on the board of the Corn Hill Neighborhood Association and the Cornhill Commons Association. For the past two years, Peter has worked part time at the University of Rochester in the HIV Vaccine Studies unit as a recruiter for vaccine studies.
Cathy Bunce, the Clinical Coordinator for the HIV Vaccine Trials Unit, University of Rochester Medical Center, says of Peter, “He is extremely committed, and a valuable resource to the Unit. He is just a wonderful man who wants to help in any way he can.” Caring, compassionate, supportive, driven – just a few words that describe this man with a large heart that embraces the community.
Peter says he always dreamed of opening up a bar. He has worked in many Rochester gay bars. He has observed what works and what does not in operating a bar. Peter says the Forum needs to change to meet the expectations and needs of its customers. Already Peter has renovated the bathrooms, updated computer access, and upgraded the televisions.
Peter wants to continue the legacy of Arnie Pegish and Richard Towner to the Rochester Community. Donna Ventura, president of the neighboring ArtWalk Tile & Flooring, Inc., said, “Peter Mohr’s loyal friendship to Arnie Pegish and dedication to the business, The Bachelor Forum, is to be commended. He is truly an asset to the community as a business entrepreneur.” The Forum is a bar that welcomes diversity, contributes to the economy of Rochester, and continuously supports the gay community’s fight for equal rights.
John Dash, executor of the Pegish estate, said: “From the day of Arnie’s death last July to today, Peter has done a remarkable job not only maintaining the bar, but growing it. I owe him a great debt of gratitude and am happy that he will be the one to carry the Bachelor Forum into the future.”
So on whose shoulders does the Bachelor Forum now stand? Peter Mohr – a caring compassionate man of strong character, determination, stature, and many talents.