This may be the end of the line for Pearl Bar. The once-crowded jewel of the Washington Avenue bar scene has apparently been locked out by its landlord for nonpayment of rent.

The above notice was posted on the door of Pearl Wednesday night, and the photo was sent our way by a friend of Rocks Off's a few minutes ago. Of course, Pearl was in the news in January when agents from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and state comptroller's office visited the bar and confiscated cash to count against a back-tax bill a comptroller's spokesman estimated at more than $40,000.

Between then and now, Sawyer Park, another once-popular Washington bar, also closed.

Rocks Off called attorney Ron West, whose number is listed on the Pearl notice, but all he would say was that he represents Eva Hughes, the building's landlord, and that "proceedings" are in motion.

Oddly, West said that he had never heard of the Houston Press, although he remembered the old daily Houston Press that folded in the 1960s. We've been here for, what, 24 years now?