Downtown Bar Closing
While downtown booms, historic bar with best balcony patio is closing
Downtown Houston's bar scene may be booming thanks to new openings near Market Square, but one longtime spot will close this weekend. The State Bar & Lounge in the Rice Hotel Lofts will pour its last drink on Saturday night, according to a manager who spoke to CultureMap Wednesday night.
Known for its quiet atmosphere, vintage look and massive second-floor balcony patio, the bar has a reputation for being a popular place for attorneys to celebrate passing the Texas Bar. The space has a storied history, as it once housed the Houston Press Club and was a gathering spot for reporters long before computers were invented.
Rumors have swirled for a while that the bar has been for sale, but the specific reasons for the closing remain elusive. Owners Valerie and Max McElroy did not respond to requests for comment.
The Rice Hotel was recently sold to Dallas based Crow Holdings Capital Partners, and new management company Greystar recently informed residents that remodeled interiors would bring their units to the level of a "5-star luxury hotel," according to the Houston Chronicle. Greystar did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether the State Bar's closure relates to these changes.
In the meantime, people who will miss the place can head there this weekend for one last drink.