Montrose Mining Company is a gay bar in the Montrose neighborhood of Houston, Texas, United States. Having opened in March 1978, it is the oldest gay bar in Houston since the closing of EJ's in June 2014. Although it mainly caters to the leather and Levi's subcultures, it is regularly attended by all members of the LGBT community.
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Description
Montrose Mining Company is located at 805 Pacific Street in the Montrose neighborhood of Houston, Texas. Known for its dark, rustic atmosphere, its amenities include pool tables, arcade machines, and a large outdoor patio. It also employs go-go boys. The bar is well known in Houston for its popularity among the leather and Levi's subcultures.
Montrose Mining Company was voted Best Gay Bar by the Houston Press in 2009. It was also voted one of the 200 best gay bars in the world by Out Traveler in 2015.
History
Before establishment of the Montrose Mining Company, several earlier bars had existed on the spot at 805 Pacific Street in Montrose. The first recorded there was The Tattooed Lady, which opened around 1970 and closed by December 1974. By that time, a new gay and drag bar, Pacific Street Station, had been established and was attracting patrons with big-name performances, such as Eartha Kitt. It is unknown when Pacific Street Station closed, but in January 1977, a new cruise bar by the name of Uncle Charlie's replaced it. Uncle Charlie's closed in March 1978.
Montrose Mining Company opened at 805 Pacific Street on March 30, 1978. Its first owner was Frank Craven. Charles Armstrong purchased Montrose Mining Company, along with two other Houston clubs, Heaven (now South Beach) and JR's, in 1986, and continues to operate it. As of EJ's closing in June 2014, Montrose Mining Company is now the oldest gay bar in Houston.