A Roanoke restaurant that became the center of controversy one year ago for hosting an “all-ages” drag show will be shutting their doors.
According to a Facebook post, the Anderson Distillery and Grill is set to have their last day of business on Sunday, August 13.
The restaurants attracted attention last August when drag queen Trisha Delish (the owner’s son) hosted the “Barrel Babes Drag Brunch,” which featured several other scantily clad drag queens dancing and performing lip-sync routines. On social media, the owner praised his “team and the inclusive environment we’re creating.”
Pro-family organizations such as Texas Family Project and Protect Texas Kids exposed and protested the event, which featured vulgarity, sexualization of minors, and partial nudity.
Another Child Drag Show was hosted in Texas, this time in @CityofRoanokeTX—
Over 20 children were in attendance and multiple teachers.
Here’s a recap of the event:
[WARNING] Vulgarity, Sexualization of Minors, and Partial Nudity. pic.twitter.com/BObkygDxrX
— Tayler Hansen (@TaylerUSA) August 29, 2022
Armed antifa members also showed up as counter-protestors.
Armed #Antifa showed up in Roanoke, TX to protect the “kid friendly” drag show at this bar. Armed #Antifa escorted attendees to the vehicles. I counted about 9 AR-15s. @CityofRoanokeTX @SaraGonzalesTX @TaylerUSA @WatchChad @theblaze @BlazeTV pic.twitter.com/S1rOM1dlmo
— Kris Cruz (@realKrisCruz) August 28, 2022
In a social media post, Sara Gonzales with Defend Our Kids Texas attributed the restaurant’s closure to “community pushback.”
“The owner complained that business was never the same, as members of the community rejected the woke restaurant and gave other restaurants their business instead,” said Gonzales.
THE POWER OF COMMUNITY PUSHBACK:
Last year, I exposed Anderson Distillery’s disgusting “all-ages” drag show with @TaylerUSA in Roanoke, TX, a very conservative suburb outside Fort Worth.
The owner complained that business was never the same, as members of the community rejected… pic.twitter.com/v0rK5eXlwu
— Sara Gonzales (@SaraGonzalesTX) August 8, 2023
The restaurant says they will be relocating to Denton instead. Texas Family Project says they anticipate the same will happen in the restaurant’s new location.
Remember this “kids friendly” drag show in Roanoke, TX that our team covered?
The owners of Anderson Distillery and Grill have been forced to close their doors and move to Denton.
We anticipate the same will happen at their new location.pic.twitter.com/vafewR2mTZ
— Texas Family Project (@FamilyProjectTX) August 8, 2023
Meanwhile, legislation to prevent seuxalized performances from targeting children has been signed into law and will go into effect on September 1.
