Virginia street renamed to honor legendary late lesbian bar owner: “She has left an indelible mark”

The Richmond, Virginia, City Council voted last month to rename a street to honor the late founder of one of the oldest lesbian bars in the country – and seemingly the oldest lesbian bar on the East Coast.

Vicky Hester began running Babes of Carytown – referred to as “the bar that never gave up” in a 2025 RVA Magazine feature – in 1987. The space originally operated as steakhouse, which opened in 1978, but slowly evolved into a lesbian gathering spot and ultimately became a haven for the broader community.

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The bar experienced many threats of closure in the state’s hostile environment of the 1980s and 1990s, but Hester kept fighting for it. “It’s always been about pride, and community, and a place to not only come together but struggle together,” Hester told RVA last year, describing the bar’s patrons and those who want “to celebrate diversity, show love and gratitude, and enjoy a fun place to dance.”

Hester died in September 2025 at age 71, only a few months after celebrating the bar’s 47^th anniversary with a hoedown throwdown. But her legacy is now cemented after the City Council’s vote, which designated a portion of the street beside the bar as “Vicky Hester Way.”

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“Because of her leadership, Babes remains a vital Richmond business and landmark in the heart of Carytown,” council policy analyst Steven Taylor wrote in a memo to the council, as reported by ABC News. “She has left an indelible mark on Carytown, Richmond and on generations of Virginians.”

Hester’s wife, Ashley P. Rueger-Hester, nominated Hester for the honor, and wrote in her own memo, “For countless Richmond residents and visitors, Babes was more than a business — it was a community gathering place, a safe haven, and a symbol of acceptance where lifelong friendships were formed, milestones were celebrated, and people found a sense of belonging. Ms. Hester led with generosity, compassion and an unwavering commitment to serving others.”

While advocating for the tribute, Councilor Stephanie Lynch said there were “no words for Vicky Hester,” Richmonder reported.

“She brought light everywhere,” Lynch said, “and she still brings it because she created a space where everyone can be loved.”   

Bar patron Denny Henson wrote a letter of support describing Babe’s as “more than a bar.”

“It was a safe space. Coming from a small town in North Carolina, I had experienced enough hostility to know that being able to walk into a place where I could simply be myself and not fear [anything] — was something precious.” 

Another Patron, Travis Warren, praised Hester for creating “a place for generations of people to experience life and find home and family.”

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