Houston Is Losing One of Its Most Beloved Queer Bars — But Not Without a Party

The Lazybrook/Timbergrove bar that’s known for its smash burgers and inclusivity is closing its doors on Sunday, March 30, after a rough year

Star Sailor, the beloved queer-owned Lazybrook/Timbergrove restaurant and beer bar known for its smash burgers and inclusive atmosphere, is officially closing its doors on Sunday, March 30, after nearly five years in business.

Owner Marin Slanina says she’s decided to close the bar after facing several difficult months for Houston restaurants. Many of the challenges began in 2024, starting with the powerful derecho in May, which forced the bar to close for around a week after losing its entire kitchen. A grant from the Southern Smoke Foundation helped Star Sailor rebuild to prepare for its month-long Pride celebrations in June, when Slanina says staff and loyal patrons get “just a little bit louder.” But in July, Star Sailor was hit by yet another weather disaster; this time, Hurricane Beryl left more than 2 million people in the city without power. Star Sailor flooded, and though it recovered, it flooded again in September, October, and January following the freeze that closed and damaged numerous Houston businesses. Earlier this year, it experienced a devastating power outage during one of its most significant events. “That was kind of the straw that broke the camel’s back,” Slanina says.

“We weren’t able to catch back up because we were continuing to maintain a building that we had to be able to operate,” Slanina says. “There were things that got in our way of being able to be fully successful in the last year, and time pretty much ran out.”

Star Sailor

Slanina opened Star Sailor in 2020 after working at several breweries in Colorado and throughout Texas, including Urban South Brewery, which she helped to open. It was her dream to open her own brewery, but she figured it would cost too much. So, instead, she opened Star Sailor in 2020, using the English translation of the Greek word for astronaut as its name to nod to Space City. Slanina, who considers herself an “all-kinds-of-drinks” girl, says she was also intent on creating a bar and restaurant made for people from all walks of life, with beverages that ran the gamut — craft beers, IPAs, and non-alcoholic offerings. “I just wanna be able to cheers with you, with something cute in your hand, and if your vice is sugar, caffeine, THC, or just a cute glass of sparkling water with a fun straw, let’s do it,” she says. “I wanted us to be able to make sure that everybody can feel accommodated and feel welcome.”

Star Sailor became known for that variety plus its smash burgers, which are served with a side of homemade potato salad and plated on Slanina’s kitschy collection of china that spans four generations in her family. Slanina says there are newer additions from diners and bargoers who have helped replace broken dishes. “Once people started asking questions and learning the history of what the heirlooms and plates were, they started adding to our collection from their own family’s things. We have so much community in every piece of Star Sailor,” she says.

The bar has been recognized for its resonance in the queer community. Food delivery service company GrubHub gave Star Sailor two community-funded grants for community impact in 2023 and 2024. In June 2024, Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce named Star Sailor its Business of the Year, which Slanina calls an “I-Made-It” moment. A certificate of recognition, signed by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, hangs on a wall in Star Sailor.

Slanina says her mission doesn’t stop now that Star Sailor is closing. After taking a long-overdue vacation, she plans to continue to work in hospitality in Texas, supporting restaurants. “The food and beverage industry is something that needs a lot of help and a lot of support,” she says. “Hospitality has been my entire life. Right now, I feel like I’m fighting the fire from inside the fire, but I think that getting an outside [view] and finding a bigger-picture way to support the industry and the community is something I’m probably looking for in the future.”

So, is there a chance there’ll be a Star Sailor 2.0? Slanina says it’s never off the table. “People have asked, ‘If someone came up to you right now and gave you $1 million, what would you do?’ I say, ‘I’d hire staff.’ We would just spend all the money immediately,” she says with a laugh.

The bar has already been bustling with end-of-the-road celebrations, with DJs and performances by its favorite drag kings and queens. Slanina estimates that the bar went through at least 100 pounds of ground beef in four days of service to its loyal diners — and newcomers, too — coming in for smash burgers.

Slanina plans to follow up the bar’s last day with a garage sale on Monday, March 31, where locals can purchase Star Sailor memorabilia, including puzzles that bargoers have assembled, posters, glassware, and a lot of beer. Between now and the closing, Slanina says to pay attention to Star Sailor’s social media channels, where she’ll continue to post updates about parties or events, and personal updates on her and happenings, too. Her mission, she says, remains the same: “It doesn’t matter who you are. It doesn’t matter what you do. It doesn’t matter who or how you love. Everybody deserves to have …a safe space to enjoy and just be at peace.”

Star Sailor