[4][5][2] It is known for hosting a variety of events including female-specific DJs, crawfish boils, dildo races and drag performers.

[4][1][6][3] Pearl Bar was launched in 2013 by Julie Mabry, a lesbian event promoter and local entrepreneur who understood the need for spaces that specifically cater to women within the LGBTQ+ community.

[3][6][2][1] In 2020 Pearl Bar was one of ten LGBTQ+ businesses across the United States to receive a preservation grant from national non-profit the Human Rights Campaign and Showtime, intended to assist with preserving the venue as a cultural landmark.

[2][3] In 2022 Pearl Bar was featured in a dedicated episode of the Lesbian Bar Project, a campaign and documentary series created by Erica Rose and Elina Street, exploring and celebrating the remaining lesbian bars in the United States.

[1][7][8] In 2023 owner Mabry noted that Pearl Bar had been denied business insurance for the first time due to hosting drag shows, which she attributed predominantly to Texas' proposed anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.