Kirby's Klub was opened by Kirby Sheldon in a space that might have given some second thoughts. The location had held two LGBT bars in less than 2 years: first "R Place" (May-December 1996) and then "Scandals" (March-October 1997).

Understandably though, the parents of the owner of the original gay bar on the site, R Place, were not keen on operating a 'gay' bar that their son had abandoned and left in their care (which they had tongue-in-cheek temporarily reopened 'Scandals'). And thus a notice appeared in October 1997 that owners Mike and Nancy handed over the keys to Kirby Sheldon and the place would be called Kirby's Klub.

In Quest issue 4-18, an advertisment appeared for the new bar called "Kirby's Klub", reading "Formerly Scandals" and then "Now under new ownership! Gay owned & operated". A listing in one issue reads "Just opened in what was Scandals building. Now gay owned & operated. Features backroom dance floor & fireplace". Later listings expanded the description as "Dancebar, Jukebox, Pool, Darts. Gay owned & operated. Features backroom dance floor, pool hall & sitting room with a fireplace".

After just under two years in business, Kirby's Klub closed suddenly in July 1999, and was reopened as "Millenium". But once again the business didn't last long-- by August it had reopened again as yet another bar, named Rainbow Room.

Kirby's Klub was thus the third in a long line of names for an LGBT bar in this location (121 W. Main Street, Madison) over a period of just 4 years:

• R Place (May-December 1996)
• Scandals (March-October 1997)
• Kirby's Klub (October 1997-July 1999)
• Millenium (July-August 1999)
• Rainbow Room (August 1999-July 2003)

Any additional information is available from anyone willing to contribute it.