Montrose has a new chapter in LGBTQ nightlife, and it’s happening at a very familiar address. The building at 611 Hyde Park, once home to Eagle Houston, is now Varsity Bar—a sports-themed gay bar from local nightlife veteran Jeff Harmon.
Harmon is giving this landmark a new life while honoring the history that came before it. The venue has been reimagined with brighter interiors and lots of shaded patio space for those Sunday Fundays. Upstairs, guests will still find Scott Swoveland’s mural of Mary’s, one of Houston’s first gay bars.
Varsity is already finding its rhythm with plenty of places to watch the game, DJs and many of the same Eagle bartenders. It’s a place that feels both new and familiar—a sports bar built for the community, in a space layered with history.
