The Real Reason Downtown's Grinner's Daiquiri Bar is Closing

SAN ANGELO, TX — Grinners Daiquiri Bar, a fixture of downtown San Angelo for seven years, is shutting down. That’s what the owners posted on Facebook. “We’re shutting our doors within the next few weeks,” the post read.

On a Monday night, Grinner’s was experiencing a brisk come-and-go business. At the bar were two couples. “We came here because he saw it on Facebook that daiquiris were only $1,” the guy sitting next to me said. The bartender asked me what I was drinking. “$1 wells or we have all these daiquiris for $1 as well,” she said, pointing to a bank of Slurpee machines, each churning its own flavor.

I chose The Hickory. That’s what Grinner’s calls the strawberry daiquiri.

“That’ll be $1,” she said, as she handed me a larger-than-expected glass of strawberry, ice and rum.

Drinking, I took the opportunity to ask the question of the bartender. What’s the real reason you’re closing?

“Business has been really slow. We don’t get enough people in here to keep it open,” the bartender said.

The couches for booths lining each wall in the front of the bar inside the old downtown shotgun building had been replaced with high tables and stools. “They took the couches out about a month ago. We couldn’t seat as many people with the couch-booths,” the bartender volunteered.

The rumors on the street are that owner Garrick Engle is considering remaking the former Grinners into a 1920s “prohibition era” speakeasy. The remodel will require the old Grinner’s to close for a while as preparations are made to open the new place. We emailed Engle to ask. Although he’s coy about the future, he promised he’s not done with the location.

“We feel Grinner’s has run its course. We’ve had a lot of fun serving San Angelo over the last seven years and appreciate our customers and this community immensely,” said Engle.

“We know in business that trends change, and we look forward to an opportunity to provide the community with a new concept in the near future that may be a better fit for the current vibe in San Angelo.”

The bartender estimated Ginner’s will be open for about two more weeks.