If you’re from Pensacola or lived in the area anytime prior to the pandemic, you’re likely to remember the moody, low-lit bar situated on West Belmont Street called Chizuko.
Up until 2020, Chizuko was a staple amongst Pensacola’s nightlife scene. Located at 506 West Belmont St., the cozy bar was known for hosting punk shows, serving up flavorful brews and dishing up tasty vegan bar food. Now, a former co-owner of Chizuko is breathing new life into the old establishment, with a fresh new look, a modern rebrand and an entirely new name—Betty’s on Belmont.
Daisy Doyle is an entrepreneur, co-owner of the former Chizuko and the woman spearheading Betty’s establishment. Born in Pensacola, but raised in Arlington, Virginia, Doyle moved back to the Pensacola area in 2002, and has been working in various aspects of the service industry since. With around 25 years of experience in the service industry, including co-owning Chizuko, Doyle will leverage extensive service and business skills in her newest business venture.
“Chizuko was an amazing experience all around, I learned a lot about myself in the years we were open,” Doyle said. “Since Chizuko, I’ve learned how to handle life’s little daily stresses with my own forms of self-care, love and relaxation. Plus, this time around, I have much more confidence, and a ton of support.”
Working alongside Doyle to help bring her vision to life, is her business partner Lynn Cameron. Cameron grew up in Pensacola and has worked with Doyle on a variety of other projects. When she’s not working as a nurse, she has been putting in some serious construction hours at Betty’s. The team began the renovation process in mid-September and completed the process in November.
While Betty’s will be different from Chizuko in many ways, Doyle still hopes to pay homage to the original establishment that many Pensacolians still hold near and dear to their hearts. One of the major choices she’s made in order to help accomplish this task is opening Betty’s in the same location as the former establishment.
“Chizuko closed during the COVID lockdowns. I had been wanting to open another bar and looked at many locations since then. I actually had a lease for a different location on the day I looked at 506 West Belmont. The old space felt different, but familiar enough that it still felt like home. It was an obvious choice,” Doyle said.
Doyle says that the vibe of the two bars will be similar, with moody lighting and dark, eccentric decor. People who knew and loved Chizuko will experience a bit of nostalgia upon entering Betty’s, as Doyle describes the new bar as “grandma’s house with an edge.”
The two establishments are also still tied together through their names. Both of the bars’ names pay tribute to Doyle’s grandmother. “Chizuko was my grandmother’s birth name, but she went by ‘Betty’ when she came to the United States and moved to Pensacola to raise her family. So, Betty’s is like Chizuko ‘Round two!’” Doyle explained.
Like Chizuko, Betty’s will also offer a small selection of elevated bar foods with an Asian twist. The menu will vary slightly, including new items as well as a few old favorites. Betty’s will have a small seasonal bar menu with daily sushi specials, vegan items and tasty soups for the wintertime. Doyle says that patrons can expect Chizuko’s Curry Boiled Peanuts to return, as well as a rotating draft selection and sake bombs. Additionally, the Pretty Baked food truck will be parked outside serving up some delicious vegan sandwiches, sides and sweets.
This is not your average bar food, and Betty’s kitchen staff is not your average bar kitchen staff. “Dot, the former co-owner of Khon’s on Palafox, is running the kitchen with the help of his sidekick, Josh aka ‘Dela.’ We will be serving food until 2 am,” Doyle said.
One major distinction between Chizuko and Betty’s is that Betty’s is a queer bar. While Chizuko was a welcoming establishment to all, Doyle emphasizes Betty’s being a safe space for LGBTQ+ individuals. “Betty’s is a safe space for all humans, but any and all forms of hate will not be tolerated. There’s too much love in this building and our neighborhood,” Doyle said.
Betty’s plans to host a variety of events that will be popular favorites among those in the queer community, as well as allies. With two stages, there will be plenty of space for live events like drag shows, punk shows, comedy nights and more live performances. Upcoming events will be posted on the Betty’s Instagram account, @bettys_on_belmont.
Betty’s had its 3-day grand opening celebration on November 15 through 17. “It takes a ton of work and time [opening a new bar], but it feels great to be able to do it again! Chizuko was the coolest, in my opinion, haha, but we are all doing our best work to make this just as special, inviting and fun!” Doyle said.
Betty’s on Belmont is now open to the public from 6 pm to 2 am Thursday through Saturday, and 1 pm ‘til on Sunday. To keep up with everything happening at Betty’s, be sure to follow @bettys_on_belmont on Instagram.