Stick taps for The Maple Leaf Pub. The Midtown Canadian bar on the corner of Elgin St. and Smith St., famed for its love of hockey, beers, and karaoke, has announced that it will close in the face of “bureaucratic nonsense”.
Opened two decades ago, The Maple Leaf Pub has long operated as home ice for Houston hockey fans and sports enthusiasts alike. Here, you could find everything that you would want in a sports bar: a friendly and personable staff, diverse selection of beers – including many Canadian and international options – as well as cocktails and other libations, satisfying no-frills pub food, games ranging from bubble hockey to darts, pinball, and more, karaoke, and much more.
The Maple Leaf officially announced its closure on social media this past week, in which it included an obituary.
“With equal parts sadness and sarcasm, we announc the passing of The Maple Leaf Pub, a beloved Canadian dive-bar-by-way-of-Texas, which finally succumbed to a long-standing battle with bureaucratic nonsense, economic body blows, and good old-fashioned burnout,” the “obituary” reads.
“Known for years as ‘your friendly neighborhood pub in the heart of Midtown,’ The Maple Leaf quickly became a second home for hockey lovers, loners, loudmouths, first dates, last chances, karaoke kings, and folks who just wanted a cold Molson and a hot plate of wings without any extra bullshit.”
Unfortunately for fans, The Maple Leaf is now closed for good, with no chance for one last bash as it were.
The bar’s owners are, however, presently encouraging its patrons to post their favorite memories of the bar on social media. For sports fans wondering where to go now, check out our list of the best sports bars in Houston (minus one). Alternatively, you can always visit Tim Horton’s.