Interview with Eleanor Cheetham | Owner of Fort Greene Bar
Eleanor Cheetham was born in London, raised in Austin, and shaped by years in New York — a life lived between cities, scenes, and creative worlds. With a foundation in studio art and art history, she moved fluidly through fashion and creative production before finding her way behind the bar in Denver.
Long before Fort Greene had its name, Eleanor was already there — bartending in the very space it would one day become. Years in the industry followed, pouring drinks, building community, and quietly imagining what the room could be.
When the opportunity finally arrived, Eleanor didn’t just take over the bar — she transformed it. She re-envisioned the space as Fort Greene: a women-owned, industry-owned cocktail bar and creative refuge rooted in care, collaboration, and craft. What began as a bar grew into something far more expansive — a place where people gather with intention, where joy and justice coexist, and where community is not just welcomed, but centered.
Now ten years in, Fort Greene stands as a purpose-driven space shaped by the communities it serves. In its tenth year, Fort was honored with a CBCA award, marking a milestone not just of longevity, but of impact. Collaborations like Sapphic Social Club have become defining chapters — celebrating queer joy while raising over $12,000 in support of queer and trans youth, Palestine, the Colorado Trans Immigrant Fund, food justice initiatives, and justice reform.
More than anything, one of Fort Greene’s greatest achievements has been growing alongside Denver’s communities — evolving into a space rooted in mutual aid, community care, and deep, lasting connection. Layered with history and intention, Fort Greene carries the unmistakable imprint of Eleanor’s vision: a place built with heart, held by community, and alive with possibility.
Tell me love, if you could have dinner anywhere in the world tonight, where would it be? (feel free to be as vague or as specific as you'd like:) Who would join you?
At home with friends on the floor or Stowaway breakfast for dinner (fruit toast forever!!)
What was the last thing you read that you'd love for others to read?
Currently enjoying reading “the art of gathering” by Priya Parker
What was the last piece of art you saw that made you shaky?
Anytime I go to Whitechapel gallery I feel all the feels!!
How long did you long to open a bar before you did it?
I’ve always loved aesthetics and creative spaces that bring people into connection. Fort is a community house at heart that moonlights as a cocktail bar :)
Wearing the Nomia Wide Leg Pleated Trouser in Carob, Renata Brenha Formiga Polo Dress in Cherry & Pink, and the Martiniano High Glove in Silver
High Glove in Silver
Formiga Polo Dress in Cherry & Pink
What do you find yourself reaching for in your closet? Is there a uniform?
My tried and true thrifted adidas track pants, I love them so! I always want to be comfy and especially with work, I hate anything constricting! If I can dance and work in it I'm happy. adidas track pants, an old sweatshirt, an orthopedic shoe of sorts, and a Fort Greene dad hat most days, maybe a vintage silky mens button up + vintage jewelry stacks if I’m feelin fancy!
Favorite City and why?
London has my heart forever, was born in the East End. I love the style, the energy is just right, so much inspiration in the design, art, fashion culture there. perfect day-walking along the water looking at all the colorful houseboats to have breakfast/lunch at Towpath, then walking to the Barbican is my favorite. Or having a solo day at Whitechapel gallery then walking around Brick Lane to all the vintage shops is the best. The creativity and exploration of the city is endless!
You must have so many incredible memories at Fort, is there an event that stands out to you that speaks to what you want the space to be?
Ooo there’s so many! So many core memories at Fort, but the ones that really have my heart are nights when everything overlaps at once—when the energy feels like a house party. Everything all at once = joy to me!! Music and movement, DJs + local performers, people dancing, while a mutual aid fundraiser is happening and a local market or intentional gathering, whether a drawing class, a literary reading, is unfolding all at the same time. When joy, care, and purpose coexist—it feels like the space is at its best and any time someone feels at ease, safe, and supported at Fort. That intersection is what I’m always hoping for with Fort Greene—the space bringing different folks and communities together in a shared way and creating something connective, whether that's through art, music, dance, mutual aid support, and community organizing resource sharing.
Leather Ellie Eyelet Jacket in Black
Taro Earrings - Blue Lapis
Things you love...
Elderly dogs
Music videos (can binge all day long)
Kind hearts
Hand held foods (car-eater over here)
Tulips
Stories shared from elders
Vintage chairs (any and all)
Good communicators
Old Still life paintings (the more boring the better)
Salt n Vinegar chips (anything vingery)
Cold calling friends
Smell of orange peels (but not oranges themselves yuck)
Hand written notes/letters (even a lil post-it gets me!)
Moody rainy weather
FKA twigs (she’s an alien and I love it)
Holding hands with friends
Book/mag/zine cover design
David Attenborough's voice
Egg salad (dont judge me)
Slow mornings
Getting to see my friends doing amazing things in the world and supporting one another thru it all (<3)
Things you don't love…
When people put their feet up on furniture in public places or even worse take the shoes off! (ewh)
Fascism
A massive crowd event (sports, concerts, all that)
Finding used floss picks on the ground outside (the earth! And ick!)
Micro fashion + food trends (soooo many)
Horror movies (tell me the story so I don’t have to watch it please)
Men in flipflops
Bad listeners
Neutrality
Phones, being on my phone, being shown something on someone else's phone, (phones period!)
Comparison bingo
Arrogance
People’s bad/unkind airport behavior
Urgency (self-created or otherwise)
When celebrities write autobiographies
Uncomfy shoes (what's the point?)
Billionaires
The best part of your job?
The people, always! Getting to spend time with so many wonderful humans—behind the bar and in the space—learning about their creative joys and getting to experience them at Fort. I also love adding aesthetic bits and bobs over the years to have Fort reach its true maximalist self , and dancing alone in the space before it opens never gets old.
The least best part of your job?
Cleaning toilets lol! My landlord! Surviving as a small biz is hard! There’s this idea that if a place looks busy or beautiful, it must be thriving. The reality can be much more fragile. Kindness, patience, and supporting local really matter!
Futebol Pleated Trousers in Blue
Mule in White
Corazon Top in Off White
Tucked into the heart of Globeville, Fort Greene feels less like a bar and more like a secret shared between friends. Warm light, vintage leather couches, and carefully crafted cocktails set the stage for nights that unfold slowly and with intention. It’s a space shaped by care, where community isn’t curated so much as cultivated. As the evenings come alive, Fort Greene transforms through DJ sets, queer mixers, drag performances, art raffles, and intimate gatherings that feel closer to living-room conversations than scheduled events. Strangers arrive curious and leave connected, drawn together by music, laughter, and the easy magic of being in the same place at the right time. Fort Greene isn’t just somewhere to drink — it’s a place to linger, to belong, and to leave with something quietly unforgettable.
