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    Keep on Dancin'

    Gayborhood saved? Iconic Montrose bars not closing for apartment development, owners say

    Tyler Rudick
    Aug 26, 2013 | 1:24 pm

    Rumors swept through Montrose Monday that iconic bars South Beach and JR's have been sold to real estate developers — another nail in the coffin for a neighborhood that many fear is swiftly losing its reputation as the epicenter of Houston's gay community.

     

    But owners of the iconic hangouts want to sent the record straight for the city's LGBT scene — The popular bars on Pacific Street are here to stay.

     

    "These rumors have surfaced every other year for the last three decades," reports Jose Apodaca from Charles Armstrong Investments, the company that owns South Beach and JR's along with other gayborhood favorites like Meteor and the Montrose Mining Company.

     

    "None of our bars are or will be for sale."

     

    Since first arriving in Houston during the early 1980s, club magnate Charles Armstrong has become a legendary figure in Montrose for his decades-long commitment to maintaining the neighborhood's gay-friendly atmosphere.

     

    Located on the 800-block of Pacific near the intersection of Montrose Boulevard, South Beach and JR's together sit on 109,000 square feet of land valued at more that $2 million, according to public records.

     

    Though not listed in prime condition, the vintage brick building that houses JR's is a neighborhood landmark dating back to 1935.

     

    The South Beach structure next door has some history of its own as the home of Heaven, the raging Montrose dance club that came to a sudden end when a fire nearly destroyed the building a decade ago. Armstrong took several years to renovate the '60s-era shell into the 10,000 square-foot nightclub, where it remains a popular weekend haunt.

     

    Since opening in 2002, hotspot South Beach has emerged as one of Houston's most popular LGBT dance clubs.

    News_South Beach_bar_gay bar
      
    Photo via South Beach Facebook
    Since opening in 2002, hotspot South Beach has emerged as one of Houston's most popular LGBT dance clubs.
    unspecified
    news/city-life

    This Week's Hot Headlines

    10 hot Houston Restaurant Weeks newcomers lead our most popular stories

    CultureMap Staff
    Jul 19, 2025 | 11:00 am
    Kitchen Rumors restaurant lobster dumplings
    Photo by Chris Furia
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    Editor's note: It's time to look back at the top Houston news of the week, beginning with the highly anticipated 2025 Houston Restaurant Weeks lineup. Plus, Texas tops a distressing new report. Get the details on our most popular stories below, then visit this event guide for more weekend fun.

    1. 10 eateries participating in Houston Restaurant Weeks for the first time. One of the most eagerly anticipated days of the year for people who love Houston restaurants has arrived. Houston Restaurant Weeks has released the first wave of menus for its 2025 event, and we've compiled 10 newcomers worth a visit.

    2. TikTok star Keith Lee crafts matcha latte for Hill Country flood relief. The devastating floods that swept across Central Texas on July 4 are bringing out all kinds of charitable endeavors — and that includes a limited-edition beverage from Texas-based TikTok food influencer Keith Lee.

     Keith Lee and matcha drink Keith Lee hoists his special matcha drink.  Instagram  

    3. Award-winning Houston chef dishes on season 4 of hit show The Bear. On this episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” James Beard Award-winning chef Justin Yu discusses season four of The Bear with Eric Sandler. It’s become an annual tradition for the two men.

    4. Two-week dining event celebrates Houston's Latin-owned restaurants. This spicy celebration of Latin food and culture continues through July 25.

    5. Texas ranks as No. 1 most 'financially distressed' state in America. Experiencing financial strife is a nightmare of many Americans, but it appears to be a looming reality for Texans, according to a just-released study that ranks Texas the No. 1 most "financially distressed" state.

    hot-headlineshouston restaurant weekskeith leeflood reliefthe bearpodcastsrankingsreportswallethubpopular stories
    news/city-life
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