Welcome to “Seven Minutes in Heaven,” GO Magazine’s interview series that profiles a different queer babe each day, by asking them seven unique (and sometimes random) questions. Get to know the thoughts, feelings, and opinions of the groundbreaking, fierce forces-of-nature in the queer community.
I could honestly not be more excited about today’s “Seven Minutes In Heaven” starring one of the most joyful creatures I know, Ms. Debbie Greenberg.
If you’re a New Yorker, chances are you already know who Greenberg is! For those of you who aren’t in the Manhattan know, Greenberg stands behind the bar at the legendary Manhattan lesbian bar, “The Cubby Hole” in the gorgeously-gay West Village.
“The Cubby Hole” has served as a home and a safe place for my friends and I, since we were baby dykes fresh out of the closet and fresh on the girl scene. It’s the place where you can kick off your wild weekend, seek solace in after attending an extremely heterosexual/boring work event and meet fabulous New York City lesbians (I’ve met two girlfriends at The Cubby Hole). Part of the reason it’s so special to me is because of the lovely Greenberg.
Greenberg makes sure that every single entity in the bar is having fun. She gives everyone personal attention, ensures everyone feels special, she’s kind and her smile and magnetic energy are infectious. She cultivates a sense of community in the bar and brings people together by leading fabulous weekend kick-off toasts that serve as ice-breakers to shy lesbians, like me.
Today we get to know the fabulous woman behind the lesbian bar! We proudly present you with “Seven Minutes In Heaven” with Debbie Greenberg! If you catch her at the bar tell her we at GO say hi!
GO Magazine: Who are you and what do you do?
Debbie Greenberg: I am Debbie Greenberg, I am a Bartender at The Cubbyhole Bar located in the West Village in NYC.
GO: What is the driving force behind your activism/career?
DG: The driving force behind my career is the absolute love for what I do and 100% where I work. I get to meet so many different people, not only from the U.S. but, globally and I get to party with them and just have a great time! My job is to make sure when customers walk through that door, they will have as much fun as I am on their side of the bar and, and anyone who has been inside Cubbyhole knows exactly what I mean.
GO: Where do you go for inspiration when you’re feeling discouraged or depleted?
DG: If you asked me this question several years ago I would have said my therapist, haha. But, when I feel discouraged or depleted now, I go to Cubby and that’s the truth. Cubby is my home away from home and it truly is my happy place. As soon as I walk in, it’s like drinking a case of Red Bull, like my battery is recharged.
GO: Who are your biggest queer lady role models?
DG: My biggest queer lady role model hands down is the owner of Cubbyhole bar Tanya Saunders. Almost 30 years ago, Tanya created a place where everyone is welcomed, where when you walk through a door and look at your surroundings you feel at home, you feel safe. Tanya took a Friendly Neighborhood bar and made it a friendly global bar. Tanya noticed me and gave me the opportunity to become part of the cubby family even though I never even made a drink before. She told me she saw something in me and hearing her say that blew my mind. Only one other person has said that to me my former boss (who remains my straight lady role model) and after she said that it, it leads to a twenty-year career in animation/brands. And, now almost eight years later bartending at Cubbyhole, I think I just may make the twenty-year mark because this amazing woman gave me the gift of a new journey in my life.
GO: Describe yourself in three words?
DG: I believe I definitely hit the nail on the head by using the following three words to describe myself: Attention, Deficit Disorder haha. Or, how about Caring, energetic and well, adorable.
GO: What music are you listening to right now?
DG: Ironically, the music I am listening to at this moment is a song called “Here’s Where the Story Ends” by The Sundays, it just came on, that’s funny.
GO: How can people find you?
DG: I’ll state the obvious, you can find me at Cubbyhole most of the time even when I am not working or at Stonewall. On social media FB & Instagram. On Instagram, my handle is “lildeb1208.”
