they'll be missed

2 longtime Houston bars have served their final rounds

Wild West has closed.

Two bars that have served generations of Houstonians announced they will close due to COVID-19. Alice's Tall Texan Drive Inn, a dive bar in The Heights, and Wild West, a country music dance hall near the Galleria, both issued their last calls on Thursday.

Known for its frosty chalices of ice cold Shiner Bock and Lone Star, Alice's Tall Texan has operated on N. Main Street for 36 years. With a friendly, come-as-you-are atmosphere and low prices, Alice's ranks at the top of most lists of Houston's best dive bars.

In an announcement on Facebook, the bars stated it will sell off its inventory beginning Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1 from 3-7 pm. Those who purchase at least a 6-pack will have the opportunity to take home a chalice or beer mug as well. A sale of the bar's memorabilia, including its neon signs, will be announced at a later date. The statement concluded with a tribute to the bar's customers.

Lastly, we want to say THANK YOU to all of our customers, employees and business partners for the past 36 years. Y’all are the reason we became known as a great dive bar, best place to drink if you’re broke, friendliest bars…we are eternally grateful to have been a part of your lives including the countless celebrations or allowing us to lift you up when you were down. ALICE’S TALL TEXAN IS NOTHING WITHOUT ALL OF YOU. We love you and thank you from the bottom of our #chALICES!

Wild West's Facebook post about its closing tells a similar story. Originally opened in Spring Branch as Midnight Rodeo in 1981, the bar became known as Wild West in 1983. It moved to its current home on the Richmond Strip in 1998. Throughout its history, people have two-stepped across its massive dance floor to loads of (mostly) great country music.

In her announcement about the closing, Wild West's Ticia Sly shared her thoughts on the bar's significance:

For me personally, Wild West was where I met my husband and raised my children. For 28 years, I called it home. I made some great friends, and met a lot of amazing people. So with a heavy heart I say goodbye to an old friend. Thanks for the memories.

Bars have been closed twice in Houston and throughout first Harris County. The first took place March 16 when County Judge Lina Hidalgo ordered the closure of all bars and restaurants to limit the spread of COVID-19 and remained in effect until May 22 when Gov. Greg Abbott allowed them to reopen as part of "phase 2." Abbott ordered them to close a month later on June 26 following a surge in COVID-19 cases.

closings

sustainability minded

Houston kicks off green hospitality program ahead of World Cup matches

Photo by Carla Gomez

Hotels, motels, and restaurants are eligible for one of three awards.

As the World Cup approaches, Houston’s hospitality businesses will be looking for ways to stand out and draw the attention of the thousands of soccer fans who’ll be attending one of the seven matches at Houston Stadium (aka, NRG Stadium). Towards that end, Houston’s World Cup Host Committee has announced a new initiative to promote hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality businesses that are committed to sustainability.

Called “New Year, New Hou,” the program will reward hospitality businesses that engage in environmentally-friendly business practices with one of three awards:

Yellow Leaf (small businesses only) (3-6 points): Organizations completed actions that build awareness of sustainability and demonstrate immediate impact.
Blue Leaf (7+ points): Businesses scaled up and expanded sustainability actions for greater impact.
Green Leaf (7+ points and certification): Larger organizations showcased concerted efforts and earned a sustainability certification from those listed in the toolkit (e.g. Dine Green, Green Key).

To qualify, businesses complete an online survey that asks about practices related to waste management, energy use, and managing natural resources. They include: giving customers the ability to easily opt-out of plastic silverware for to-go orders, recycling, using LED light bulbs, composting, installing EV chargers and bike racks, planting trees, and sourcing ingredients from local farms. The application is open from January 12 until February 28 and is open to all restaurants, hotels, and motels within the Houston-Galveston Area Council boundaries.

“This is about making sustainable practices accessible and impactful for our local hospitality community,” Elizabeth Carlson, sustainability committee chair of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Houston Host Committee, said in a statement. “The FIFA World Cup is a once-a-generation opportunity, and through ‘New Year, New Hou,’ we want to help Houston businesses not only prepare for an influx of global visitors, but also strengthen their operations in ways that will benefit them and the community long after the final match is played.”

Shawn Gawle Camaraderie World Cup sustainability Chef Shawn Gawle has earned a Blue Leaf at Camaraderie.Photo by Carla Gomez

Camaraderie, an casual fine dining restaurant in the Heights, has already received a Blue Leaf.

“For neighborhood restaurants like ours, sustainability isn’t a trend. It’s part of being a good community partner,” chef-owner Shawn Gawle said. “Programs like the Hospitality Sustainability Toolkit make it easier for small, locally owned restaurants to take meaningful steps that reduce waste, save resources and meet the expectations of visitors coming to Houston from around the world.”

Businesses that qualify will be included in a tourism guide that’s available for World Cup visitors.

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