Chances Bar

{{Short description|Former nightclub in Houston, Texas}} {{Infobox company | name = Chances Bar | logo = | logo_caption = | image = | image_caption = | trading_name =  | former_name = | former type = | type = | traded_as = | industry = | genre =  | fate = | predecessor = | successor = | foundation =  | founder = | defunct = {{End date|2010|11|20}} | location_city = 1100 Westheimer,<br />[[Houston, Texas]] | location_country = U.S. | locations =  | area_served = [[Montrose, Houston]] | key_people = | products = | brands = | production = | services = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | aum =  | assets = | equity = | owner = | num_employees = | parent = | divisions = | subsid = | homepage = {{URL|https://web.archive.org/*/https://www.chancesbar.com}} | footnotes = | intl = | bodystyle = }} '''Chances Bar''' was a nightclub in the [[Montrose, Houston|Montrose]] neighborhood of [[Houston]], Texas, which catered to the local [[LGBTQ]] community, particularly [[lesbian]]s. According to the Chances Bar Tribute Site, the bar opened in August 1994.<ref name=CBTS>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chancesbar.com/|publisher=Chances Bar Tribute Site|accessdate=June 7, 2014|title=Welcome to Chances Bar Tribute Site|archive-date=December 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227104037/http://www.chancesbar.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> The space had been owned by the Vastakis family since it was Charlie's Coffee Shop in the 1970s.<ref name=HP>{{Cite web|title=Chances Bar Closing After Saturday Night|url=http://blogs.houstonpress.com/rocks/2010/11/chances_shutting_down_after_sa.php|accessdate=June 7, 2014|date=November 19, 2010|first=Craig|last=Hlavaty|work=[[Houston Press]]|location=Houston, Texas|archive-date=August 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140816134624/http://blogs.houstonpress.com/rocks/2010/11/chances_shutting_down_after_sa.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== History ==

Chances operated as a lesbian bar for sixteen years and was considered a "nightlife staple" in Montrose.<ref name="HP" /> In April 2006, the bar underwent a remodel following a fire.<ref name="HP" /> In 2010, the Vastakis family got out of the bar management business and into property development.<ref name="CBTS" /><ref name="HP" /> The property was put on the market in July and the business closed on November 20.<ref name="HP" /> The owner said of the closing:<ref name="HP" /><blockquote>"Chances lasted a lot longer than we though it would. It's been a great time... It's a natural evolution for us all in the family. I was spear-fishing with my 12-year-old son in Greece and he said, "You know Dad, we never get to just hang out. You are always at the bar working," and so we decided to change the direction of our business plan."</blockquote>The site was slated to become a "high-end restaurant, with a superstar chef". Chances held a closing party, for which its marquee displayed "Thanks for the mammaries".<ref name="HP" />

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Portal|LGBTQ|Texas}} * {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/*/https://www.chancesbar.com|title=Chances Bar}} {{Neartown, Houston}} {{LGBT culture in Houston}} {{LGBT in Texas}} {{Coord|29.744904|-95.392951|format=dms|type:landmark_region:US-TX|display=title}}

[[Category:1994 establishments in Texas]] [[Category:2010s disestablishments in Texas]] [[Category:Companies based in Houston]] [[Category:Defunct companies based in Texas]] [[Category:Defunct LGBTQ nightclubs in Texas]] [[Category:Entertainment companies disestablished in 2010]] [[Category:Entertainment companies established in 1994]] [[Category:Defunct lesbian bars in the United States]] [[Category:Lesbian culture in Texas]] [[Category:LGBTQ culture in Houston]] [[Category:Women in Houston]]