Briar Patch

2294 W Holcombe @Greenbriar

1970 to 2005

A long-time Houston piano bar, from September 1970 until the Spring of 2005.
It was known for its piano bar atmosphere and older crowd.

by June 2003 it had moved to 2312 Crocker, lasting just a couple more years

The ad above, from September 26, 1980, noted a 10th anniversary celebration,
but the earliest mention (though no ad) I could find was from The Nuntius, in April 1974.

 

  

 

 

  

 

Jerry Kauffman Obituary

 

And, there's a bit of video, posted by owner David Ellzey

Below, click to view

and, another video clip

by June 2003 it had moved to 2312 Crocker

Current photo of 2312 Crocker St, now home of the Crocker Bar

When I have access to that issue of the Houston Voice I will add that article



There was very little advertizing after this point. The last listing of the Briar Patch
I found in the local gay publications was 2/4/05. It had disappeared from those listings
by June 2005. I could find no reference to a closing date, but I think it was March 2005

In the ad above from July 2003 you can notice a web address of www.HoustonGayBars.com,
apparently managed by the Briar Patch owner. That person kept the site going even after
Briar Patch closed, and its comments on some of the bars are interesting.

And that site was shut down around February 2007