Beloved East End music venue Satellite Bar closes

Laramie Joseph, from left, Jazzmin Readeaux, and Rye Lorelei of the band Lagrimas perform at the Satellite Bar on Nov. 26, 2021, in Houston.a reputation as an underwhelming destination for live musicThere was nothing second-rate about the Magnolia Park music venue, which hosted world-renowned acts on the same stage as local underground bands, often on the same night. It was a fixture in the city’s do-it-yourself music scene and a trusted stop for touring artists passing through.

The club, located at 6922 Harrisburg Blvd., opened in late 2015 after owner Erick Quiroz, a Magnolia Park native, took it over from a friend who had been operating the space as a short-lived bar called The Shop. Quiroz, who had been working in the oil-and-gas industry, had no experience in the music industry, but saw value in holding a space for local artists in the rapidly gentrifying neighborhood where he grew up.

That was a credit to the ambition of doorman-turned-talent buyer Gil Castillo, who persuaded Quiroz to fly with him to New York and Los Angeles to build relationships with agents and musicians. The venue was also known for giving local vendors their big breaks — Tacos Bomberos, one of Houston’s most popular taquerias, and Full Court Houston, the streetwear company, both got their starts as pop-ups at Satellite Bar. For the city’s homegrown bands, playing the 250-capacity indoor room could make up-and-coming artists feel like rock stars.

“I never made a lot of money out of Satellite but anyone who knew me knew it wasn’t about that. As long as it was self-sustaining and my employees got paid, it was enough for me,” Quiroz said. “But with everything going on, it just didn’t feel like the right space anymore....as much as I loved it, I didn’t want it to become something I hated, because I spent so much time loving it.”

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