Beloved Owner Of East Coast’s Oldest Lesbian Bar Has Died
Established in 1978, hers was the bar that never gave up – remembering Vicky Hester.
Featured Image: Vicky Hester courtesy of Babes of Carytown
Vicky Hester, owner of the historic Richmond, Virginia, lesbian bar Babes of Carytown, died on Tuesday at the age of 71. A local industry trailblazer, philanthropist, and LGBTQIA+ icon, Hester passed away surrounded by loved ones, according to Babe’s social media announcements. She is remembered for her toughness and resilience when it came to ensuring the survival of Babe’s, and her warmth and welcoming energy, which drew patrons to her establishment in the first place.
Tributes continue to pour in.
“She wanted you to feel like you were at home when you came through those doors, no matter how you dressed, who you loved. She wanted you to feel welcome here,” bar manager Chas Warren shared with local WTVR News.
“I considered Vicky a second mother to my daughter,” one woman shared on Facebook. “Vicky honestly handled the really hard years – college and all…RIP Vicky. I’ve told you many times how much I appreciate you, but I wish I’d had one more chance to say it to you again.”
Babe’s initially opened as a steakhouse in 1978, but by the 1980s, it had become a mostly lesbian bar. At the time, it was one of about 200 lesbian bars in the U.S. Just two years ago, as many venues have seen closure, Babe’s was noted as one of 27 left.
Vicky Hester was always public about what she saw as her mission: to create an inclusive and vibrant space where people from all walks of life could come together, enjoy good music, and have fun. “We allow people to be themselves,” she told Axios in a 2023 interview. “[At Babe’s] you can be whoever you are, whatever you are.”
Located in the heart of Carytown in Richmond, Babe’s easily earned its spot in GO‘s dyke nightlife diary. The bar holds a longstanding reputation as a hotspot with an upbeat atmosphere, signature cocktails and Jell-O shots, and welcoming vibe. Regulars enjoy the spacious dance floor, pool tables, karaoke, and drag shows; plus a relaxed outdoor area with multiple bars, a patio, and a volleyball court. Out-of-towners have been known to find the place ‘unexpectedly lit.’
Babes of Carytown is the oldest lesbian bar on the East Coast, and the second oldest in the country. While it is foremost a social scene for the LGBTQ community, the welcome extends to allies, and the place is simply regarded as a staple in Richmond.
“In the summer of 1995, a co-worker asked if I was any good at beach volleyball. I lied and told her yes – and that’s how I first got invited to Babes of Carytown,” one fan of Hester’s wrote on Facebook after her passing. “Yes, it’s a Lesbian bar, but I’ll always remember it as a place where a few colleagues went for drinks and volleyball on Friday nights after work. In the few times I was invited to tag along, I was always made to feel welcome and that’s a testament to who Vicky Hester was – everyone was welcome.”
Image via Facebook
“Please continue to join her family, friends, and staff at Babes of Carytown in remembering her tenacity for life and love for people,” Babes shared on Facebook. “Keep those she loved, in your thoughts, as we begin to navigate life without her. She will truly be missed.
Celebration of life details will be released at a later date.
Image via Facebook
