New sports-themed gay bar set to open in the heart of Montrose

It has to be said: While Texas might not always be viewed as a state where queer people can thrive, the city of Houston has always had a vibrant LGBTQ+ culture, including its own “gayborhood” in Montrose.

In a nod to maintaining the neighborhood’s legacy, a new sports-themed gay bar is set to open in the space previously home to The 611 and Eagle. The new bar, owned by local business owner Jeff Harmon, will be called Varsity Bar and plans to be fully operational before Halloween, Harmon told COURIER HTX.

“ We’re taking our time to make sure that people, when they do return, it’s familiar to them, but also they’ll be able to see that we’ve done a lot to a familiar place for them,” Harmon said.

In addition to showing sporting events across the venue’s 13 TV screens, Harmon also plans on hosting drag shows, dancing, and live DJs as a way to remember the former nightclub’s history with the gay community.

Although there are an estimated 803 gay bars across the US, safe spaces for queer people are more important now than ever. According to the ACLU, nearly 100 anti-LGBTQ bills were introduced this session in Texas, such as Senate Bill 8, which bans transgender people from using restrooms that align with their gender identity in government buildings, and public schools and colleges. The bill was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott and will take effect Dec. 4.

Harmon, however, plans on making sure that the space at Varsity Bar will continue to serve as a welcoming space for the queer community, and therefore strengthening Montrose’s reputation as the hub for LGBTQ+ people in Houston.

“ I feel that Montrose and the bars here are safe,” Harmon told COURIER HTX. “We do have security, and when we have very large events, we’ll use the constables. We have a very good working relationship with Constable [Alan] Rosen.  This establishment has been part of gay life for several decades.”