RIP Schanks Sports Bar and Grill franchise

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

That was probably at the Ranchman's. (which is still around and has been since the 80's).

Nope. Definitely the Black Swan. This was in the late 90s. In that time, the South wasn't quite as developed. All of the bars on McLeod trail were full of cowboys, as they'd drive their trucks in from small towns and wouldn't quite make it downtown.

Ranchman's was the higher end fancy cowboy bar with the big fancy dance floor, bull riding, crazy sound system, neon lights, etc... The Black Swan was the divier establishment. They would have great student nights though. So an otherwise rural crowd would be overwhelmed by student age kids a couple of nights a week.

[SuperMatt18]

Hmm wonder how I can get a hold of some of those pinball machines.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by troutman

Peanuts (Carriage House, over 40 years)
Bottlescrew Bills (1985)
Cat N Fiddle Pub (1992)
Dinny's Den (1969)
Ship & Anchor (1990)
Moose McGuires (1995)
Kensington Pub (1982)
Point & Feather (early 80s)

Good list - I've drank in all of them. For providence, I think the Stetson at the Stetson Village Inn might have them all beat. I'm guessing mid 70s, back when hotel bars were almost the only places you could drink liquor in Calgary. The Stetson used to be quite the Stampede hotspot back in my parents' heyday.

If we include hotel and restaurant lounges, there have to be quite a few older ones. Like Tom's House of Pizza, Wellington's, etc. Up until the late 80s, almost all bars were restaurant and hotel lounges.

Someone should write a book on the history of bars and lounges in Calgary. My friend's mom used to recount how when she first came to Calgary in 1968, women were not allowed in bars. They could sit in the restaurant and order a drink, but they could not go into or bring their drink to the bar.

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by blankall

Ranchman's was the higher end fancy cowboy bar with the big fancy dance floor, bull riding, crazy sound system, neon lights, etc...

That sounds more like the Longhorn(?) Dance Hall just south from there. Much better dance floor, and classier than the Ranchman's. Unfortunately it became a Chapters in the late 90's.

[Derek Sutton]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Hmm wonder how I can get a hold of some of those pinball machines.

When the Edmonton location closed, everything was auctioned off through an Edmonton auction house Kastner Auctions. From the deep fryers to the memorabilia to the bowling lanes.

I would expect the the Calgary locations do the same??? Check the aution web sites, would be a good chance to pick up some cool stuff. There was a time when the arcade games were owned by a third party though, don’t know if that is still the case nowadays.

[Bootsy]

Originally Posted by troutman

Peanuts (Carriage House, over 40 years)
Bottlescrew Bills (1985)
Cat N Fiddle Pub (1992)
Dinny's Den (1969)
Ship & Anchor (1990)
Moose McGuires (1995)
Kensington Pub (1982)
Point & Feather (early 80s)
Juliet's Castle (?)

Nice list I'd also add a personal favorite Rose n Crown (1986ish?)

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

That sounds more like the Longhorn(?) Dance Hall just south from there. Much better dance floor, and classier than the Ranchman's. Unfortunately it became a Chapters in the late 90's.

Longhorn closed in 1995, which was before my time.

The late 90s, was an awkward time for Calgary's scene. Electric Avenue was done. You had a few hipster type places. A few huge places like the Palace. And then the McLeod trail scene, which was all over the place at that time, but the parking lots were often full of large trucks.

A few smaller pubs, like the Swan, had wedged themselves into college scenes by offering ridiculously cheap drinks and taking advantage of central locations.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Bootsy

Nice list I'd also add a personal favorite Rose n Crown (1986ish?)

The Rose & Crown was originally a funeral home, built in the 1920’s. The historic building was made into a bar in 1986.

https://roseandcrowncalgary.ca/

[CliffFletcher]

The Trop has been around since at least the early 80s. But it has changed hands and names so many times, is it really the original bar?

[troutman]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

The Trop has been around since at least the early 80s. But it has changed hands and names so many times, is it really the original bar?

I think it was a pizza parlor originally?

"a heritage that dates back to 1970s"

https://thetropyyc.com/about-us/

[GrrlGoalie33]

The Shark Club down at =Deerfoot meadows is a good place to watch a hockey game.

[GrrlGoalie33]

The Shark Club down at Deerfoot meadows is a good place to watch a hockey game. Multiple screens so usually a good viewing angle and good food.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by troutman

I think it was a pizza parlor originally?


"a heritage that dates back to 1970s"


https://thetropyyc.com/about-us/

Pizza parlour with attached tiki lounge. Had the fake bamboo walls and everything. And cheap, cheap booze. Then they tried to go upscale in the early 90s and renamed and remodelled the place. Same clientelle kept coming, though, so it became a dive bar again. I understand its been remade again since into a more upscale place, and it stuck this time, as there aren't a lot of drywallers and mechanics living in that part of the city anymore.

[troutman]

The Lounge at Nick's could go back to 1979.

[Locke]

Whats that Bar across the street from The Black Swan thats part of that Motel?

The Stetson Village Saloon?

That seems like its been around since the dawn of time.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Locke

Whats that Bar across the street from The Black Swan thats part of that Motel?

The Stetson Village Saloon?

That seems like its been around since the dawn of time.

Yup, that's it, Its pretty dated. But I used to take my parents there for Breakfast up to last year, and the food and service there is still good in the restaurant.

[CroFlames]

My dream is to become a regular at a neighborhood bar.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

My dream is to become a regular at a neighborhood bar.

That's a pretty easy dream to make into reality.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by getbak

That's a pretty easy dream to make into reality.

No my wife sucks.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

No my wife sucks.

Norm never let that get in the way of his dream.