And then there was one—or more like a half-a-“gay bar” in Lubbock, TX.

April 8, 2025

By P.Earl

On a cold west Texas night, not that long ago, I joined my friends to gather around the warmth of a lighted dance floor with a mirrored disco ball hanging from above, moving to the tubthumping of a 2000-watt speaker, while drinking in the traditional and not so traditional spirits of the “gay bar”.

The lines between gay and straight nightlife have maintained a significant split as long as bars have existed here in Lubbock. Yes, a gay person does go to a straight bar and vice versa.  But living in the second most conservative city in the United States (2006 poll), those that self-identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or queer, find slim pickings these days for an open night on the town.

Anyone looking for a place to meet knows where to go for nightlife to find something different, out of the ordinary, and authentic to themselves. The gay bar is the place to be if you find yourself not fitting in. Straight folx I know, who find themselves at the gay bar, are there because of the music, lights, specials, and freedom. Through this mix of communities, the lines of judgment seem to blur.  This small circle of people is a real, living, breathing example of community, if only for a night.

These days, people I talk to about the history of “gay bars” in Lubbock don’t believe me when I say Lubbock was THE place to go for gay bars. Beginning with a back room of a steakhouse and then a warehouse during the ’60s and ’70s, to the big boom of brick-and-mortar buildings of five-six, depending on if there was a name change, in the ’80s, then back to slim pickings of the ’90 s, the Lubbock bar scene was filled with queers and straights alike. In 1999, I experienced my first gay bar/club EVER in Lubbock, TX. Before the bar, there were small private house parties. But what if you were not “in the know”, how would you meet?  Unfortunately, your choices are a church or a bar.

In 2010, the two remaining gay bars in Lubbock (defined by way of many displays of rainbows, drag queen shows, and the queer community as customers) decided to host "straight nite". It was even advertised on local radio. On alternating Friday and Saturday nights, you would find people being turned away at the gay bars because they "looked gay".

In my naive lesbian heart, I like to think the “ten percent rule”, or the idea that 10% of the population is gay, is alive in Lubbock.  If it is, then at least 20,000 people in Lubbock County identify as LGBTQ+.  But realizing that this rule has since been debunked nationwide, I still wonder where everybody is.

So, where are we now? 

Sitting on the largest mesa in the United States, the Llano Estacado, you can feel like you are the only person on earth.  Our big, exposed sky invites you to reach up and grab it. The flat plains give you room to stretch and grow.  The sun and wind can test you to your core. 

OUTwest Lubbock, the virtual LGBTQ+ community center, is working to chronicle the history, culture, and personal narratives of our LGBTQ+ community.  While we are using various collections across Lubbock and the State of Texas for our research, we want to hear from you, the people who have lived and worked in Lubbock.  

Help us add your story/memory to our history project.  Did or do you still frequent the "gay bar"? Want to help edit our list for more accuracy? Do you have personal papers, posters, and memorabilia you would like to share? Do you have articles, newspapers, etc., that you have saved and want to share?  Let's go down memory lane together.  Email us at contact@outwestlubbock.org

Below is an incomplete compilation of beloved “gay bars” for over 50 years;

Diane’s Steakhouse (early 1960s), 1801 19th Street. The back room was for those only “in the know”. It was common knowledge that it was a gay restaurant.  No drag shows were performed but some customers felt comfortable going in drag.

The Plaid Door (early 1970s). University Avenue and 4th Street. Lesbian Owned. (Dorothy Heath)

Dorothy’s (early 1970s). 50th Street and Avenue Q.  Lesbian Owned (Dorothy Heath)

The Place (1970s) 2492 Main St.

David’s Warehouse (mid-late 1970s), 2400 Block of Marshall Street. Possibly gay-owned.  Known to have police waiting to arrest men in the parking lot.

Hilltop (late 1970s early 1980s), North University Avenue. Opened while David’s Warehouse was still open.  Primarily women customers. 

Pinocchio’s (late 70’s, then in 1977 renamed Peaches until late 80’s) 510 N. University Avenue. Located down from Hilltop on University Avenue.  “Stunningly beautiful bar/club”

Just Magic (1980’s) 40th Street and Chicago Avenue off Brownfield Hwy (now Marsha Sharp Hwy.). Lesbian Owned.

Pandora’s Box (mid-1980s to late 1980s) Off of North Avenue Q.  Mostly women customers.

Papillons (late 1980’s, open briefly) 1204 Broadway. Located in the basement of the Pioneer Hotel. Backgammon tables, bar, dance floor.

Uncle Charlie’s (1988-1991) Location Unknown. Owners: Tino Calderon and Ray McDermett, “Lubbock was a hard town to have a gay bar in.” – Austin Chronicle, May 16, 2020, “The legacy of BT2 and Beyond.” https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/qmmunity/2020-05-16/the-legacy-of-bt2-and-beyond/  

Captain Hollywood’s (mid 1990’s) University Ave. and 13th Street.

The Bar (1990s to early 2000s). 2401 Main Street. Top 40, Tejano, and Country Music.  One large bar.  Two pool tables.

Murphy’s Pub (2005-2009) 3502 Slide Rd. Great food and drinks. Lesbian Owned.

Belly’s Café (now Flippers Tavern) (2009-2013) 1406 Avenue Q.  Great food and drinks.  A space to host gay themed fundraisers. Lesbian Owned. 

Club PINK (2015-2016). 510 N University Avenue. Drag Queens hosted Drag Shows.

Heaven Night Club (“Gay Night”) (2016-2019). 1928 Buddy Holly Avenue.

Rewind Lounge (2019-2023). 1802 Buddy Holly Avenue. Drag Queens hosted Drag Shows. Lubbock PRIDE Block Party.

Club Luxor (1998-present day). 2211 Marsha Sharp Hwy.  Club Luxor is Lubbock’s premier and legendary alternative lifestyles nightclub. It has been a Mecca for national and world-renowned entertainers and DJs.

If you have corrections for us on street addresses, dates of service, and/or owner or manager names please email contact@outwestlubbock.org