Tina's (North Avenue)

Ilet "Tina" Terry (1946-1993) operated Tina's RTI at four North Side locations between 1982 and 1993. Tina was a divorced black woman with seemingly limitless compassion. She cared deeply for her business, for her elderly mother and diabetic sister,and for many friends and neighbors in her community. She is remembered as a generous, kind-hearted, loving mother figure by many.

Tina Terry felt strongly about keeping her bars where her people were. She wanted to create spaces that were comfortable, accessible, inclusive, and local. Her first location, 219 E. Keefe, was the former home of Artony's, an early '80s black gay bar. Little is known about her next two, short-lived locations (1733 W. Hopkins and 1843 N. 20th.) Tina's RTI found its final home at 634 W. North Avenue in 1990.

On July 10, 1993, Tina's was the scene of a tragic and violent crime. When two cousins were denied access to the bar at closing time, they pulled guns and began threatening the bouncer. Tina attempted to intervene, begging the men to leave, pleading "you don't have to do this." In that moment, one of the men aimed at Tina and said "this one is for you." Tina was shot in the chest and died instantly.

The bouncer, shot four times, would later recover, as would an outside passerby shot by the perpetrators as they exited the bar.

Tina's killer was convicted of first degree intentional homicide and sent to prison for life. He will be eligible for parole in 2029. The second shooter was convicted of reckless homicide and sent to prison for 45 years. The murder was not considered a hate crime, despite homophobic comments made at the crime scene, because the criminals already received the maximum possible sentence.

Sadly, no sentence could ever bring Tina Terry back. Friends and family, including her 104-year-old mother, hosted a vigil outside her home at 24th and Lloyd. She was buried in Graceland Cemetery. Although a Tina Terry Foundation was announced in her memory, we do not know if one was ever established.

“Her death is a big blow, a big loss to the community," said a vigil attendee. "Tina’s has been the single consistent meeting place for us. The foundation of what we had as a black gay and lesbian community has been pulled out from under us. It leaves a big void that’s going to be felt for a long long time."

Over thirty years later, Tina Terry is still deeply, painfully missed by all who loved her.