Mystery & Glamour Await at Madame Sherri's

Most locals know the story of Madame Antoinette Sherri. Born in Paris, she was a New York City theatrical costume designer in the early 1900s who built a large summer house (often referred to as a castle) in Chesterfield with her husband that featured extensive stonework throughout. The couple threw infamous lavish parties there in the 1920s to entertain all their city friends, until she came upon hard times and eventually the vandalized and abandoned house burned down in 1963. Its crumbling stone remains are still visible to this day in a state-protected natural area known as Madame Sherri's Forest. Many of us have visited as children or have taken our own children there to hike and explore, and such was the case for Adam Toepfer, who would visit the site with his mother often and was inspired to further research her amazing life. And so, when Toepfer began to ruminate on the idea of opening an entertainment space several years ago, he came back to the name Madame Sherri and the glamour she epitomized. She was also known to be very LGBTQ+ friendly and lived a life surrounded by queer people in the theater world, he said, a perfect fit for their new venture. Madame Sherri's Lounge & Cabaret's three co-owners are Adam Toepfer, Patrick Brown and Paulee Mekdeci, a performance artist who is known on the drag and burlesque stage as Miss Ginger Soulless. Toepfer and Brown share co-manager responsibilities, while Mekdeci and Toepfer both serve as co-creative directors. Brown and Mekdeci are also married. The restaurant and performance space opened at 82 Main St. in Keene (the front door is off Railroad Square) at the end of July and the decor pays tribute to its namesake, from the pre-existing stonework bar to the snakes (Madame Sherri was known to own a cobra-lined thrown), to the red door that's similar in color to the castle door. "We're paying homage to her," Toepfer said of her opulent lifestyle. "And bringing awareness to the history and her life," Brown added. While Toepfer and Brown only met a few years back when Toepfer relocated from New York and applied for a job at Brown's other company, Brown Computer Solutions, these two co-owners say they grew close quickly and when Toepfer had the idea to create Keene Pride, Brown came on board as a sponsor. While all three owners are active on the Keene Pride board, they emphasize that Madame Sherri's is not owned by nor is connected formally to the organization, a misapprehension held by many in the community. They are totally separate entities. Although they had dreamed of opening a space such as this one, it happened on a faster trajectory than expected when the previous bar closed, and the location became suddenly available. It was the perfect layout and size for what they had envisioned. "We all had a similar dream to open a safe space for queer people," Brown said and Mekdeci agreed, adding his dream included an event space that could recreate the magic of Keene Pride. Vision in hand, they've since navigated the highs and lows of opening a new business together, learning to build on each other's individual strengths and skillsets. Toepfer is the video, sound and lighting go-to, as well taking on graphic design and promotion, while Mekdeci handles performance details. "We can't always see each other's vision, but we come around to it," Mekdeci explained with a smile. "And we're always on the same page by the time the show happens. We always have faith." Their goal is to offer shows pretty much every weekend, as well as some type of entertainment every night, from burlesque and comedians to open mics, karaoke and trivia, many alongside the intention of spotlighting and highlighting queer performers. From the dance parties to the disco music, it's all a vibe that can't be found elsewhere in Keene and they aim to keep every crowd happy. The restaurant side of the business operates from 4 to 9 p.m., and then the kitchen is also open during shows. Their menu includes a variety of comfort food options that utilize high-quality ingredients. With owners who love to cook, a critical eye is kept on the food coming out of the kitchen, and serving a great version of French fries was of utmost importance. Lousy fries are absolutely unacceptable, Toepfer stressed. The Adam's Chicken Sandwich is a customer favorite with its pickle-brined fried chicken, mayo and pickles that can be served spicy by adding a housemade hot sauce. Fish and chips has also joined the ranks as a Friday special. The bar is mixing up creative cocktails and on Thursday nights (previously Fridays), customers can get the Adam's Cheap Date Night special of an Adam's Chicken and Adam's Cheap cocktail for $15, which has become quite popular. Wednesdays are wing nights with 75 cent wings. Above all else, Madame Sherri's is dedicated to being a safe space in Keene for the queer community and their allies. Straight women as well have been drawn to the safety of the environment they've created. "As long as you're cool and want to have a good time, everyone is welcome here," Toepfer said. Madame Sherri's will hold a grand opening dance party on Thursday, Sept. 5, at 8:30 p.m. featuring drag legend Sherry Vine, as well as Miss Ginger Soulless and lots of dancing and glamour (ages 21+). Find more details on social media. It promises to be a party that would make the original Madame Sherri proud. For more information about Madame Sherri's Lounge & Cabaret, visit madamesherris.com. Follow on Facebook and Instagram @madamesherris for events and updates.