The club had been losing money since the BP oil spill shocked the local economy.Ĭhestnut said the opening of Main Street Lounge did not influence his decision to close. The decision to close was a long time coming, Chestnut said. Drama Club loves Houma, we wish everybody the best in the world." "This was the first place a lot of people came out to. "There are a lot of sad people tonight," Chestnut said. It was my crown jewel and now it's my swan song."Ĭhestnut said he was overwhelmed with emotion as he prepared to move to Lafayette to be with his children. "This was my favorite bar out of all the ones I have owned. "My goal was to have a place where the gay community could enjoy themselves," Chestnut said. It was the seventh bar that Chestnut owned and managed in his career, and it became his pride. He opened it on a whim after he found out the only gay bar at that time, Kicks, was planning to close. Now there is a new bar in town, on Main Street, just over a mile away from the seat of parish government.ĭrama Club owner Randy Chestnut celebrated his 70th birthday on Feb. It recently closed, leaving a world much different than the one it entered in late 2003.įor the thousands who visited the bar, squeezing between its colorful walls to dance away balmy Cajun nights, the closing was a bittersweet milestone in the acceptance of gay culture into the Houma's mainstream.
Ten years ago, the Drama Club broke hard ground as the first gay bar to advertise publicly and display the rainbow flag in Houma.