Sawyer Park was a popular destination for sports fans on Washington Avenue.: Photo: Smiley Poole

A once popular sports bar on Washington Avenue, Sawyer Park, has closed.

A recorded message states:

‘We are now closed. From all of us at Sawyer Park we would like to thank you for your patronage for four fun years.”

Sawyer Park was owned by brothers Darren and Jeff Van Delden, who also own Houston nightclubs Red Door, the Drake and Wonder Bar.

Despite early popularity, as Eater Houston notes the bar gained notoriety in 2011 when an altercation between two patrons ended with gunshots in the Sawyer Park parking lot, wounding one. There were also allegations of racism in the bar's dress code and door policy.

Patrons are invited to call or email if they feel they have any lost property inside the bar, 2412 Washington Ave., until Monday Feb. 25.