We're Broadway performers who moved from NYC to Colorado Springs to open a gay bar. We love CO Springs' small-town vibe but miss New York.

Sun, 08/04/2024 - 08:06

John Wolfe and Josh Franklin pose for a photo while skiing and pose in front of their bar, ICONS — John Wolfe (left) and Josh Franklin (right) are theatre performers who left New York City for Colorado Springs in 2020.
Courtesy of John Wolfe and Josh Franklin

John Wolfe and Josh Franklin are theatre performers who left NYC for Colorado during the pandemic.
The couple opened Colorado Springs' first gay cocktail bar, ICONS, which features live singing.
Wolfe and Franklin said they love Colorado Springs' charm but still visit NYC regularly.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with married couple John Wolfe, 35, and Josh Franklin, 43, both theatre performers and bar owners. The couple lived in New York City for over a decade, working on and off Broadway. During the pandemic, they moved to Colorado Springs, where they opened the city's first gay cocktail bar, ICONS.