Richmond lost more than a business owner this week. On September 2, 2025, Vicky Hester, the longtime owner of Babe’s of Carytown, passed away at age 71. For many, her death marks the end of an era. For nearly five decades, Hester kept the doors of one of the nation’s oldest lesbian bars open and in doing so, she helped hold a community together.
According to bar staff, Hester passed away after a long battle with cancer early Tuesday morning. She is survived by her wife, Ashley Rueger-Hester, and their dog, Charlie.
A Bar That Became a Beacon
When Babe’s first opened in 1978, it was just another Carytown steakhouse. But by the late ’80s, it had transformed into something rare and vital: a safe space for Richmond’s lesbian community. That shift wasn’t part of a grand business plan, it was Vicky meeting the need. She gave women a place to gather without apology, at a time when being open about who you were could cost you a job, your safety, or worse.
Surviving the Hard Years
Running a queer bar in Virginia during the ’80s and ’90s was not for the faint of heart. Harsh ABC laws meant licenses could be threatened simply because “homosexuals congregated” there. Police raids and harassment were constant risks. But under Hester’s watch, Babe’s endured. She played it as she had to, protective when her patrons needed it, and stubborn enough to outlast the challenges that shut down so many other spaces.
More Than Just a Bar
To call Babe’s just a lesbian bar undersells it. Under Hester’s stewardship, it became a true community hub. Sports leagues, drag nights, fundraisers, line-dancing lessons: all of it found a home there. She was known to open the doors without a cover charge when events supported causes she cared about, like food pantry drives. For countless people, Babe’s was a first taste of belonging in Richmond.
Community Mourning
The depth of Hester’s impact was made clear in the statement shared by Virginia Pride president James Millner:
“We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Vicky Hester, beloved owner of Babes of Carytown and a pillar of Richmond’s LGBTQ community. After a courageous battle with cancer, Vicky left us Tuesday morning, leaving behind a legacy that will live on for generations to come.
For decades, Vicky opened both her doors and her heart to support the LGBTQ community she loved so dearly. She understood that queer spaces are sacred—not only as places to socialize, but as centers of community where we can organize, celebrate, grieve, and sustain one another. Thanks to Vicky, for four decades Babes has been one of the most important queer gathering spaces in our city. She fought tirelessly to preserve it as one of the few remaining lesbian bars in the country while ensuring that all of Richmond’s LGBTQ community had a place to find safety, belonging, and joy.
Our hearts are with Vicky’s family, especially her wife Ashley, and the entire Babes team. We share in their grief with deep gratitude for all Vicky gave to Richmond.
May Vicky’s memory inspire us to honor her legacy by building the kind of community she so deeply believed in.”
Main photo of Babe’s of Carytown at 3166 W Cary St, Richmond, VA on September 3rd, 2025 by R. Anthony Harris
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