A Northside bar known for its vibes and free crawfish had all of it come to a screeching halt late Friday night.

Rabbit’s Got The Gun, a chill haunt located at 708 Hogan St., didn’t have its usual customers pull up to enjoy drinks and music. Instead, it found a trove of Houston inspectors and officers tasked with shutting down the venue. In a video uploaded to Instagram, one of the venue’s owners told viewers that Rabbit’s Got The Gun was being closed down.

“This is Nate, with Rabbit’s Got The Gun,” he began. “We just got shut down by the City of Houston, on some bogus ass building code sh-t. We pay about $14,000 a month in taxes. Guys, we’re not mad at them; they’re just doing their job. But we will take the party elsewhere, stay tuned for deets. And we will continue free crawfish, God willing.”

After Nate thanked the inspectors and officers, he chatted with an inspector who said the venue is not allowed to serve food as it doesn’t have proper food and beverage permits, according to the city. 

“Where are your permits for the crawfish you’re selling? Who’s selling the crawfish?” the officer asks. Nate denies that Rabbit’s sells crawfish; rather, it gives them away for free.

In a follow-up video, Nate is seen with his brothers at the bar, calling out Mayor John Whitmire and blaming him for Rabbit’s abrupt closure.

“The facts are, the current mayor and his bully squad are bullying small-owned businesses across the city. Most of them bars that pay high amounts of sales taxes that go to our local infrastructures.”

He continued, “We won’t let this stop us. We’re moving our party to 14 Kendall St. We’re taking everything we do at Rabbit’s to 14 Kendall St.” 

Established in 2019, Rabbit’s Got The Gun carved out a home blocks away from Poppa Burger and Bad Astronaut Brewing Co. for its eclectic mix of music, energy, drinks and good times. Just days before the city’s shocking shutdown, the bar was prepping for a night celebrating Tejano and Cumbia music with a crew of DJs and more. That party, Puente Mundial, will be moved to Da Houze Bar at 2502 Elysian St. 

And yes, free crawfish will be there as well.

Temporarily losing Rabbit’s Got The Gun adds to a growing theme in Houston nightlife. As Houstonians across the city continue to ask which areas are still alive among Midtown, Third Ward, Upper Kirby, and Washington Avenue, many bartenders and patrons have pointed to several factors behind the changes, namely Mayor Whitmire’s crackdown on select venues.

It’s unclear when Rabbit’s Got The Gun will return, but their love of giving people free crawfish isn’t stopping anytime soon. As long as the season is ongoing, so will the patronage.