farewell to the owl
Popular Upper Kirby patio bar announces impending closing date
Pour one out for The Owl Bar. The popular Upper Kirby patio bar will close on August 29, it announced on social media.
"It's been an incredible run," the post starts, "but it is with a heavy heart we announce that The Owl Bar will be officially folding up its wings at the end of this month. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the city of Houston great drinks for almost 10 years. We want to thank the countless customers that have walked through our doors, our incredible staff, loyal regulars, and everyone who has made our time here special."
Owner Stephen Clarke tells CultureMap that he and his partners have sold the property to a local group that have plans to transform the space. "We've had a great run, but it made sense for us to sell at this point especially since I moved to Austin last summer," Clarke writes in an email. "We'll be open for the next two weeks with our final night being Thursday, August 29."
Originally, the Owl occupied a building on Kirby Drive, but it relocated in 2015 to make way for the Kirby Collection mixed-use development. The current location expanded the bar's footprint with a spacious patio and other amenities.
Tributes have flowed in during the weekend as regulars remember the dates they went on, the Ole Miss games they watched, and the special occasions they celebrated in the comfortable neighborhood spot. They'll be there to hear one last song on the jukebox and have one final drink before the bar goes away forever.
