Cheer Up, Buy Up

Cheer Up Charlies, Austin's top LGBTQ+ venue, sold to national group

Cheer Up Charlies now has a financial boost.

Photo courtesy of the Front Festival

A nationwide holdings group dedicated to LGBTQ+ hospitality and entertainment, Pride Holdings Group, has acquired Austin's famous bar and music venue Cheer Up Charlies. The group announced the acquisition October 14.

In August, financial troubles led the venue to appeal to the general public for support; the public stepped up and covered $58,000 in back rent and then some. However, some social media commenters exposed a contingent of would-be supporters whose patience was stretched thin due to what they allege are bad business decisions.

"We are beyond excited to join the Pride Holdings family, and enter into this new chapter of our existence," said co-founder Maggie Lea in a press release. "Being a part of Pride will help us find the long-term stability and provide the financial backing we've always dreamed of."

According to the release from Pride Holdings (which seems to misspell the bar's name as Cheer Up Charlie's), Lea and her co-founder Tamara Hoover will stay in leadership positions. It emphasizes the bar's popularity as "Austin’s top-ranked LGBTQ+ bar for the past 15 years," as well as its "vibrant community" and "inclusive atmosphere."

Lea also alluded to a statewide expansion coming up for the Cheer Up Charlies brand.

"We are thrilled to have found a team like Pride Holdings that aligns with our mission, and we also can’t wait to grow the brand all across Texas!," they said. "With this transition, we will be able to strengthen our support for and to celebrate the diverse community of artists, nightlife performers, live musicians, and audiences that make Cheer Ups so special.”

“Cheer Up Charlie’s isn’t just a bar — it’s a symbol of community, resilience, and celebration," said Pride Holdings CEO Mike Barrett. "We’re honored to carry forward its incredible legacy while giving it the resources to grow and thrive. This acquisition reflects our commitment to preserving the soul of LGBTQ+ spaces while elevating them to new levels of visibility, impact, and profitability.”

The release states that Pride Holdings is working on expanding its Texas portfolio, with projected openings in San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas within the next two years.

Cheer Up Charlies has shared an Instagram post by Pride Holdings, but has not made its own. Pride's comments are turned off across all its recent posts.

lgbtqia+bars venues business

OPENING ALERT

Topgolf tees up first New Braunfels location for December opening

Topgolf/Facebook

Topgolf will make its New Braunfels debut on December 5.

Rapidly growing New Braunfels is taking another big swing. Topgolf will open its newest golf venue at 427 Creekside Way on December 5, adding to a growing list of national chains settling in the once-sleepy Hill Country town.

The two-level complex marks a milestone 100th U.S. opening for the brand and the 112th worldwide. The 38,000 square foot location is a bit smaller than its big city counterparts, but will still offer the chain's signature blend of sports and entertainment.

The centerpiece is 62 outdoor, climate-controlled hitting bays across two levels. Golfers of all skill levels can play virtual courses or interactive games that test their swing or aim. To amp up the competitive spirit, each bay is outfitted with Toptracer technology, which traces each golf ball's flight path, distance, and other metrics guests can lord over their friends.

Less accomplished linksters can join Topgolf's exclusive golf club, The Sure Thing. The company says the program "is designed to make golf less hard for beginners or those whose game just isn't that great."

Those who don't know the difference between a birdie and an eagle can trash-talk their friends from lounge seating or high-tops scattered across the bays. Topgolf also offers a full-service bar and restaurant, fire pit areas, a nine-hole mini golf course, and 40 HDTVs — although the latter are more likely to be tuned into the latest Spurs game than a Vanderpump Rules reunion.

"Opening our 100th U.S. venue in New Braunfels is more than a milestone; it's a celebration of the fun, energy, and innovation that makes Topgolf unlike any other entertainment experience out there," boasted Erin Chamberlin, Topgolf Chief Operating Officer and Interim President, in a release.

The new Topgolf facility will be a centerpiece of the massive The Town Center at Creekside development, which will also bring a new outpost of budget-minded gym Eōs Fitness, Texas Roadhouse, Jeremiah's Ice, and a Chick-fil-A drive-thru.

"The grand opening of Topgolf is a significant milestone that we have eagerly anticipated for many years," said Austin Alvis, President & Chief Development Officer of developer NewQuest. "With this addition, Creekside's development is reaching its final development stages, and we are confident that it will greatly benefit our community for years to come."

Topgolf New Braunfels will be open from 9 am to midnight Sundays through Fridays, and 9 am to 1 am Saturdays. From December 5–19, any player who books and completes a one- or two-bay reservation will be automatically entered to win one year of free game play.

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