Updated, 4pm: Co-owner Maggie Lea told the Chronicle that she and partner Tamara Hoover have regained access to Cheer Up Charlies. \u201cWe ACH our rent through a rent portal and the ACH just takes three to five days and we [sent] it a few days late on March 4th, so it didn\u2019t show up until today,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n
ACH, which stands for automated clearing house network, is a common electronic money transfer system utilized by landlords and property management companies.<\/p>\n
Lea and Hoover met with landlords DT Land Group Wednesday afternoon and were able to demonstrate that they had sent rent and were then returned the keys to their establishment \u2013 alongside a stern warning to account for ACH lag in the future. <\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t multiple months behind [on rent] or anything like that, it was just a late ACH payment that needed to clear earlier,\u201d said Lea. <\/p>\n
As of 2pm on March 11, Cheer Up Charlies owners Tamara Hoover and Maggie Lea have been locked out of their nightclub at 900 Red River.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Chronicle\u00a0captured a photo of a padlock around the gate to the popular queer watering hole on Wednesday afternoon \u2013 one day before the official\u00a0kickoff to South by Southwest<\/a>\u00a02026. Also posted was a letter from landlord DT Land Group, informing Cheer Up Charlies, LLC that it has \u201cfailed to cure [its] default.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOn March 5, 2026, Landlord notified Tenant that were in default of their lease due to rent past due in the amount of $15,529.58,\u201d the letter reads. \u201cThe failure to pay these amounts constitute events of default under the Lease. Landlord provided 5 days for the Tenant to cure this breach. To date, the Tenant has failed to cure its default and pay the past due amounts.\u201d<\/p>\n The letter continues: \u201cAs authorized by the Lease, the Landlord has re-entered and taken possession of the Premises. In order to secure its possession of the Premises, the Landlord has altered the locks. You are not authorized to reenter the Premises. Until the Lease is formally terminated, rent will continue to accrue.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n When reached for comment at 2pm, Cheer Ups co-owner Maggie Lea texted the Chronicle that \u201cWe cleared the rent this month in full, but we were late.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe are currently at their office asking why we are being kicked out even though we paid rent in full. I believe they are confused about a partial payment made last week and didn\u2019t realize the full rent had cleared.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n DT Land Group did not respond to the Chronicle\u2019s calls.\u00a0<\/p>\n The timing of this lockout is particularly difficult for the venue, as SXSW traditionally brings in significant revenue for Austin music venues. Cheer Up Charlies has struggled with rent in recent years. Late last August<\/a>, the music venue announced that it was $58,000 behind on rent and would have to close if it didn\u2019t raise the funds by the end of the month. Lea and Hoover successfully raised the money via community fundraising, but faced backlash for turning to the community to resolve its financial issues. Shortly thereafter, the owners were purchased by queer-owned, Florida-based hospitality group Pride Holdings Group<\/a>, but then left the deal<\/a> three weeks later.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cTamara and I have nothing bad to say about Pride, we just put in a notice and we\u2019re out,\u201d Lea told the Chronicle following the rescission. \u201cI think it\u2019s what is best for both of us and they agree.\u201d<\/p>\n