Local Bars Dominate Alcohol Sales in San Angelo

“Free beer here tomorrow,” is a sign that many San Angeloans are familiar with, as this joke is posted in almost every bar in town. It’s no secret that Texans like to drink, and in a mid-sized town like San Angelo,  some claim that there's not much else to do but to hit the local bars for some entertainment. Dissecting the November 2015 TABC alcohol sales report that measures Oct. 2015 sales, we found that downtown rules as San Angelo's party hub and locally-owned venues dominate the top.

Fiddlestrings Bar and Patio has been a staple in this town since 1985. The patio was recently expanded to include an outside bar and have more flat screen televisions, inside and out, than a Best Buy display--all contributing factors to Fiddlestrings’ number one position in alcohol sales in all of San Angelo.

For owner Jesse Calloway it is all about his staff. 

“To me, the whole game-changer in this town is service; it all comes down to customer service, and my job as an owner is to work for the staff,” he stated. “[Being number one] is an honor and a privilege. It speaks volumes to the customers we have, and also to our staff."

Only $8,147.20 behind Fiddlestrings, Shenanigan’s Sports Bar & Grill places at #2 of 73 venues we tracked. The once average-sized sports bar has recently expanded to include a dining area and stage, bringing the grand total of square footage to over 10,000.

Derrick Hoffman has owned Shenanigan’s since March 2007. He stated, “It is a proud moment to be #2. Offering food is a big deal for us, also the space and having all of the sports tickets.”

Shenanigan’s has the largest screens in town where patrons can watch their favorite sporting event while enjoying a great meal. Their food menu, which Hoffman said is their biggest contributor to the bar's success, is much more than just typical bar food, as it includes items such as ribeye steak bits, smoked brisket, grilled pork chops, and Tilapia filets.

“[The food] is bringing in a different group of people that wouldn’t come in just to drink. We actually have people come in, get a plate of food, and have a drink or two,” Hoffman said.

Shenanigan’s has plans to do some minor remodeling to its patio in 2016; a positive change that patrons are sure to enjoy.

Blaine’s Pub posted numbers making it #5 overall, but Blaine's has been the top venue in the downtown area for about a year. In the October numbers, Blaine's is way ahead of the next downtown venue by $17,000 in reported sales. The pub may have “the worst parking in town,” but it has some of the best music entertainment San Angelo has seen. Texas Country acts such as Bri Bagwell, Gary P. Nunn, Cody Canada, Mike McClure, Bart Crow, and Mark McKinney have all graced the Blaine’s stage recently, as well as a some local musicians like the Judson Cole Band.

The late Blaine Martin is reported to have said about the live music performers many times that "Whether you're on the way up or on the way down, you'll play at Blaine's."

Blaine's owner Cody Sturm said that his strategy has been to build upon Blaine's reputation as an authentic live music venue, not just a bar. To do that, he's taken occasional risks in booking larger, more expensive acts that his seating capacity (just under 300) can sometimes barely afford. The concept is attracting good up-and-coming bands to want to play there, so Blaine's gets to pick and choose its live music performers. A great example of a new, popular up-and-coming music act that has made at least part of their scene notoriety at Blaine's is American Aquarium.

Patrons expect great music at Blaine's no matter what night it is since Sturm has positioned the iconic San Angelo bar to once again have a voice in what Texas country music acts are viable, or not.

While #7 in all of San Angelo, The Deadhorse holds the number two spot for Downtown. The rock ‘n roll venue has been open for eight years and is known for its lively atmosphere and exceptional live shows. It is these factors that are the biggest contributions to the bar's success.

Owner Rex Rogers stated, “[Our atmosphere] is a combination of not only the music and décor, but also the staff. As a bar, we do our own thing and we don’t try to compete with anyone else’s thing. We do what we do and we do it great. There is nothing else like The Deadhorse in San Angelo. Visitors from out of town almost always comment on how they would expect to see our place in a big city like Las Vegas or Austin. It's comments like those that make you realize you’re doing something right. We’ve worked very hard to be where we are and are appreciative of our customers’ support.”

In 2016, Deadhorse patrons can expect to see a shot bar and a newly renovated patio. Rogers said the plan is to bring in more diverse music and to showcase more of the local bands.

“There is a lot of really great underground music scene in San Angelo right now,” Rogers noted.

* Sept. 2015 report numbers. Oct. numbers not reported by state.