Since opening in 2000 under owner Kai Niemi, Henry’s Pub carved out a niche as a neighborhood gem in the Gaslamp's bustling scene. With accolades like the Gaslamp Quarter Association’s Best Live Music, Favorite Pub, and Best Casual Dining and Customer Service recognitions, it drew a diverse crowd - families by day, revelers by night. Kid-friendly until 9:30 p.m., the pub evolved with the times, recently adding vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options to its menu. Its signature #cluckmoo - a chicken and beef smash-up - became a local legend, paired with a weekend Pub Brunch that kept the mimosas flowing.
No exact closure date is set, but Henry’s is expected to shutter sometime this spring after a quarter-century run. The closure ends a chapter for a spot that weathered San Diego’s shifting nightlife, from dot-com booms to pandemic pivots, leaving regulars to mourn a casual dining stalwart.
Enter Fat Tuesday, a bar concept born in 1984 on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, famed for its slushy, boozy concoctions. With more than 80 locations spanning tourist hubs like Miami, Las Vegas, and Nassau, the chain is now targeting growth across the contiguous U.S., aiming for 10 to 15 new spots annually.
The San Diego flagship will be the brand’s first California outpost and its largest, occupying 3,600 square feet in the heart of the Gaslamp. A representative for the company confirmed that the location will be corporate-owned and is part of a national expansion strategy led by Garnett Station Partners, a New York-based investment firm.
"People have been begging us to come to California for years, and San Diego was the perfect place for us to bring the party," said Fat Tuesday CEO Alex Monahan in a press release. "This spot takes everything people love about the brand and takes it to a new level."
Enter Fat Tuesday, a bar concept born in 1984 on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, famed for its slushy, boozy concoctions. With more than 80 locations spanning tourist hubs like Miami, Las Vegas, and Nassau, the chain is now targeting growth across the contiguous U.S., aiming for 10 to 15 new spots annually.
The San Diego flagship will be the brand’s first California outpost and its largest, occupying 3,600 square feet in the heart of the Gaslamp. A representative for the company confirmed that the location will be corporate-owned and is part of a national expansion strategy led by Garnett Station Partners, a New York-based investment firm.
"People have been begging us to come to California for years, and San Diego was the perfect place for us to bring the party," said Fat Tuesday CEO Alex Monahan in a press release. "This spot takes everything people love about the brand and takes it to a new level."
The space will follow a day-to-night format: a family-friendly lunch and sports venue with 30 TVs during the day, and a high-energy nightlife destination after dark with DJs or live music, bottle service, and frozen cocktail specials flowing until 2am.
The opening follows recent larger-format launches in Tampa’s Ybor City and downtown Fort Lauderdale, part of Fat Tuesday’s strategic shift into more immersive, experience-driven venues. In 2025, the brand also gained momentum through high-profile pop culture partnerships, including a Super Bowl weekend event with Cardi B and Whipshots and a national campaign with Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila.
There was a similar frozen drink concept located in downtown San Diego at one point. Wet Willie's was sited at 555 Market Street for four years before closing in 2014.
As Henry’s fades, Fat Tuesday’s arrival stirs the pot in Gaslamp’s ever-evolving tapestry. Will it blend into the quarter’s eclectic mix or chill the vibe of a storied corner? San Diegans will sip and see come summer.
Fat Tuesday plans to open by late spring or early summer at 618 5th Avenue in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter. For more information, visit fattuesday.com.
Originally published on April 2, 2025.
