Background and early years

The Cock opened in 1998 and was originally on Avenue A in Manhattan.^[4] Since then, it has relocated twice: first to 29 Second Avenue and then slightly northward to 93 Second Avenue.^[3][6][8] In its early years, the venue hosted exhibitionist shows organized by promoter Mario Diaz. According to New York magazine, "[the] sordid acts and general carefree air ... [attracted] not only horny young men but also plenty of spectacle-seeking celebrities," including Christina Aguilera, Boy George and George Michael.^[4] The bar was raided frequently during Rudy Giuliani's tenure as mayor of New York City.^[1][4] That "anti-nightlife" era saw "cops and inspectors ... swarming the Cock as often as twice a week, ticketing for anything they could find".^[4] The venue was temporarily shuttered in 2000 for being a public nuisance.^[4] After the business reopened, it ran into legal trouble when patrons continued to smoke indoors after the 2003 statewide smoking ban, but its only formal citation was dismissed.^[1][4]

2010s

Mannarelli attempted to move The Cock from 29 Second Avenue to Avenue B in 2014, but Manhattan Community Board 3 rejected his application after learning that the venue would offer "drag shows, 'art performances', and meat pies".^[6] The following year, the bar successfully relocated up Second Avenue, into a space formerly occupied by Lit Lounge.^[3][6][9] This move was met with resistance by the East Fifth Street Block Association, which opposed new venues in the nightlife-saturated neighborhood, and the community board, which attempted to block the bar's liquor license.^[6][8][9] Displeased residents of nearby dwellings organized a "Block the Cock" campaign.^[10]

Throughout the 2010s, The Cock was managed by Nashom Wooden, a fixture of the New York City nightlife scene who performed in drag as Mona Foot and was a member of the Ones.^[11] Wooden also worked there as a bartender.^[12] During the same period, pornographic actor Boomer Banks began his career as a go-go dancer at the bar.^[13]

2020s

In January 2020, there was a reported slashing outside The Cock's entrance. Police responding to the incident entered the premises, and they issued summonses for sexual exposure by the venue's go-go dancers. The following month, Mannarelli attempted to change The Cock's liquor license to that of "a nightclub with live music and dancing". The state liquor authority (SLA) denied this request, but Community Board 3 approved it. This caused the SLA to admonish the community board and warn it that it would be held responsible for any future problems at The Cock.^[14]

Like other New York City nightlife venues, The Cock shut down temporarily during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ahead of its reopening, Mannarelli applied to transfer the establishment to an address on Rivington Street.^[10][15] This was met with protest by area residents,^[14] and Community Board 3 struck down the request. Mannarelli resolved to reopen the 93 Second Avenue location during New York City's 2021 Pride week,^[15] at which time it was announced that the bar would require proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for entry.^[16] A May 2021 Queerty article indicated that, later in the year, Mannarelli intended to "spruce up an unused space [inside that location] and open it as the Celebration Room" in honor of Wooden, who died of a suspected case of COVID-19 in March 2020.^[12][15]