One of Houston’s Finest Whiskey Bars Has Permanently Closed Its Doors

Public Services Wine and Whisky, one of Houston’s finest destinations for a glass of whiskey, has permanently closed its doors.

Owner Justin Vann announced the sad news in an Instagram post on Thursday, lamenting that the bar’s beloved regulars didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to the spot. “That sounds cheesy but seriously, we watched many regulars become friends of ours. We watched many of you get married, and a couple of you get divorced,” Vann wrote on Instagram. “It meant so much to be a bar that witnessed so many special occasions.”

No word yet on what will become of the space at 202 Travis Street will become, but Vann will stay active in the city’s booze scene. He’ll continue to buy wine for Justin Yu’s Theodore Rex, and recently took a position as the new “wine geek” at Nancy’s Hustle. He’ll also continue to write a monthly column on drinking for Houstonia.

Public Services is just the latest Houston bar to shut its doors as the city’s watering holes largely sit empty, joining icons like Alice’s Tall Texan and popular newcomers like Penny Quarter in Montrose.