Alcohol sales are up for many San Angelo hotspots this quarter, but for one local bar, a series of changes and gradual upgrades have boosted sales and moved this bar up 19 spots on the top bars list since September making it the top downtown bar on this month's list.
The Blaine's Pub, known for its 7 a.m. beer specials, live bands and country atmosphere changed hands in September when Cody Sturm bought the venue from the Steve Brown family.
Since taking over the pub, Sturm and manager Katie Bollinger have worked to clean things up, hired a few new faces, added a second well to decrease lines and wait times and upgraded the sound system. The recipe, it seems, has had just the right ingredients for success.
“Sales are up,” Sturm said. “It was almost immediately after we took over. Our September numbers were kind of down…I just saw the November numbers a while ago…we’ve definitely moved up the charts.”
Back in September, the first month the new owners reported taxes, the pub reported $27,537 in sales, landing at spot #24 on San Angelo’s Top Bars list. The dip was drastic as compared to other months, but by October and November the bar had pulled back up to the #5 slot, reporting some $71,224 in sales for November, the highest ranking the pub has received all year.
Part of the pub’s success is attributable to upgraded the equipment and improving the speed and service, Sturm said, but equally important has been the new owners’ emphasis on providing high-quality entertainment.
Recent visitors to the venue include Mickey and the Motorcars, Bart Crow and Charlie Robison, Texas Country favorites who played the pub back in the early days before they made it big.
The tradition of Texas-grown music has been the backbone of Blaine’s since the pub opened in 1997, and Sturm says he and Bollinger plan to continue to build upon their band bookings through the New Year, adding more quality entertainment three nights a week.
Blaine’s Pub is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., and offers $2.50 longnecks until 7 p.m. daily. On New Year’s Eve the pub will be hosting the Judson Cole Band with no cover.
"Most bars do a cover charge on New Year’s, so that’s the one day we don’t do a cover charge," Sturm said.
The band is scheduled to take the stage at 10 p.m. and Blaine's is anticipating a packed house.
Disclaimer: Blaine's is an advertiser on San Angelo LIVE!
Below is a list of the top 25 San Angelo bars based on tax receipts and gross alcohol sales for the month of November. The numbers reflect those reported to the Texas State Comptroller's Office on Dec. 23.
| Venue | Tax Receipts | Gross Sales |
| TWIN PEAKS RESTAURANT | $9,392.99 | $140,193.88 |
| SHENANIGAN'S | $8,587.79 | $128,175.97 |
| FIDDLESTRINGS | $6,056.33 | $90,392.99 |
| BUFFALO WILD WINGS | $5,398.05 | $80,567.91 |
| BLAINE'S PUB | $4,772.07 | $71,224.93 |
| LITTLE RIVER CLUB | $4,638.20 | $69,226.87 |
| THE PARROT'S HEAD TAVERN | $4,292.42 | $64,065.97 |
| DESIREE'S GENTLEMEN'S CLUB | $4,274.86 | $63,803.88 |
| FAT BOSS'S | $3,605.27 | $53,810.00 |
| THE DEADHORSE | $3,589.79 | $53,578.96 |
| SWA-GITO | $3,442.59 | $51,381.94 |
| FAST EDDIE'S | $3,428.39 | $51,170.00 |
| TEXAS ROADHOUSE | $3,166.15 | $47,255.97 |
| THE GRILL | $2,905.58 | $43,366.87 |
| MIDNIGHT RODEO | $2,772.99 | $41,387.91 |
| OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE | $2,698.15 | $40,270.90 |
| CHILI'S BAR AND GRILL | $2,378.23 | $35,495.97 |
| THE OFFICE BAR | $2,265.87 | $33,818.96 |
| THE ORIGINAL HENRY'S | $2,251.80 | $33,608.96 |
| GIZ & HUM'S | $2,248.78 | $33,563.88 |
| GRINNER'S DAIQUIRI BAR | $2,189.09 | $32,672.99 |
| ZERO ONE ALE HOUSE | $2,136.56 | $32,888.96 |
| MOREY'S CLUB AND SPORTS BAR | $2,117.20 | $31,600.00 |
| THE PENNY PUB AND GRILL | $1,888.73 | $28,190.00 |
| CORK AND PIG TAVERN | $1,871.10 | $27,926.87 |
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