Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
October 20, 2025
Pride Holdings Acquires Austin's Top LGBTQ+ Bar in Major Expansion
TLDR
- Pride Holdings Group gains a strategic advantage by acquiring Austin's top-ranked LGBTQ+ bar, expanding its national footprint and strengthening its market leadership in LGBTQ+ hospitality.
- Pride Holdings Group acquires Cheer Up Charlie's with founders retaining leadership roles as part of a planned Texas expansion into Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.
- This acquisition preserves an iconic LGBTQ+ community space while providing resources to strengthen support for diverse artists and performers across Texas.
- Austin's beloved Cheer Up Charlie's, the city's top LGBTQ+ bar for 15 years, joins Pride Holdings Group's growing portfolio of entertainment destinations.
Impact - Why it Matters
This acquisition represents a significant consolidation in the LGBTQ+ hospitality sector, potentially setting new standards for how queer spaces can scale while maintaining their community roots. For LGBTQ+ communities, it signals both the commercial viability of their spaces and the importance of preserving authentic cultural hubs amid rapid expansion. The move could influence how other LGBTQ+ businesses approach growth while maintaining their core values, and it demonstrates the increasing corporate recognition of LGBTQ+ consumer markets as valuable economic segments worthy of strategic investment.
Summary
Pride Holdings Group (OTC: PHSE), a national leader in LGBTQ+ hospitality and entertainment, has made a strategic acquisition of Cheer Up Charlie's, Austin's top-ranked LGBTQ+ bar for the past 15 years. This landmark deal represents a significant milestone in Pride Holdings' national expansion strategy as the company builds what it aims to become the leading network of LGBTQ+ entertainment destinations across the United States. The acquisition brings one of Texas's most iconic LGBTQ+ venues into the Pride Holdings portfolio, strengthening the company's position in the competitive hospitality market while preserving the authentic community spirit that has made Cheer Up Charlie's so beloved.
The transition maintains strong leadership continuity, with founders Tamara and Maggie remaining in key positions to ensure the bar's community-driven identity remains intact while benefiting from Pride Holdings' financial backing and operational expertise. Cheer Up Charlie's has consistently held the #1 spot among Austin's LGBTQ+ nightlife venues, making it a cornerstone of the city's cultural and entertainment scene. Maggie Lea expressed excitement about joining the Pride Holdings family, noting that the partnership will provide long-term stability and resources to grow the brand across Texas while strengthening support for the diverse community of artists, nightlife performers, and musicians that define the venue's unique character.
Pride Holdings CEO Mike Barrett emphasized that Cheer Up Charlie's represents more than just a business acquisition—it's a symbol of community, resilience, and celebration that the company is honored to carry forward. The acquisition aligns with Pride Holdings' broader strategy of preserving the soul of LGBTQ+ spaces while elevating them to new levels of visibility, impact, and profitability. The company plans to expand its Texas footprint with future openings in Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio projected within 24 months. For more information about this developing story and Pride Holdings' growing portfolio, visit www.prideholdingsgroup.com through the NEWMEDIAWIRE distribution network.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by NewMediaWire. Read the original source here, Pride Holdings Acquires Austin's Top LGBTQ+ Bar in Major Expansion
