In 1988, Paul Galluccio tried to enter a gay piano bar on the east side of Manhattan but was ignored by the doorman. Maddened, the then 52-year-old decided to open his own piano bar. The following year, the TownHouse Bar of New York opened, and it's been a New York staple for younger men who are crazy for a sharped dressed man ever since.

In a recent New York Times profile, the 82-year-old entrepreneur reflected on the success of Townhouse and his other establishments.

"There were young guys who were attracted to older men and now knew where to find them," Mr. Galluccio said. "Some were hustlers. We'd try to curtail that. We found out what was going on and said, 'You’re not welcome here.'"

Galluccio, who also runs other hot spots including drag bar Manhattan's Lips and its San Diego, Atlanta, and Fort Lauderdale locations, says the clientele is mostly straight—and he's not complaining about it.

"Ninety percent of our audience is straight: bachelorette parties, anniversaries, divorce parties," he said. "I love seeing people laugh."

Galluccio also isn't all that concerned about apps like Scruff and Grindr luring his customers away.

"...people like to see what they're getting in person," Galluccio said speaking of the Chelsea gay bathhouse he opened in 1995, Westside Club. "We see things are starting to pick up again."

Though he started running his own hot spots when most people are slowing down, Galluccio has no plans to stop now.

"I don't want to retire," he said. "I love working. It's a hobby, and I have so much fun every day."