The 602 Club was well-known for its liberal and tolerant atmosphere, and gay men supported it for decades before Stonewall. The bar's unspoken rule was that the front bar was for gay men, and the back bar was for straight men. There was no conflict between the groups at all, despite the space often being uncomfortably crowded. While there was no jukebox, no dance floor, and the TVs were usually turned off, the bar was so popular that it often filled past capacity. It was known as a bar for people to talk-- and listen to other people talk. The 602 was a haven for men seeking men to find each other, even during the terrifying Gay Purge of 1962-1963.