An imposing corner building in the small Texas town of New Braunfels, the Phoenix Saloon opened for business in 1871. Back in the 19th century, the ground floor held a bar, the basement briefly housed a brewery (a keg of beer cost a princely $2.25), the garden contained an alligator pit and the back room was given over to a café, the proprietor of which is credited with inventing chili powder here in the 1890s. After prohibition put an end to the fun, the building was turned into a small department store, which itself eventually shut in the 1990s.
The bar was revived a few years ago, and former colleagues of ours at Time Out back in London will recognise the owner: yes, that’s our old pal Ross Fortune, who moved to Austin, Texas after vacating the Music Editor’s chair on the magazine in the mid 2000s. Along with Debbie, his Texan wife (they married at Graceland), Ross bought the Phoenix in 2007, and spent two years rescuing it from a state of some dereliction. They’re plainly proud of the results, and with good reason: it’s a splendid, atmospheric room, with 31 beer taps lining the lengthy bar (there were supposed to be 30, but the guy who installed them added one for luck) and a kitchen turning out some quite excellent chili. There’s music, too, of course; and those readers who once worked with Ross may recognise a certain style in the listings on the Phoenix website.
Risen from the ashes, the Phoenix reopened under Ross and Debbie’s watch on 26 February 2010, which would have been Johnny Cash’s 78th birthday. (Needless to say, this was no coincidence.) In the unlikely event that any readers find themselves in central Texas this Saturday evening, the bar’s fifth anniversary is being marked by a rousing set from honky-tonk hero Dale Watson. Scoot to it!
from Lafayette, LA, USA
5 comments
Andrew Shields says:
Mar 3, 2015
Hi Will and Ruth
I’ve loved all your posts but this one brought a real gasp. Ross Fortune! And he looks in fine fettle – Texas life clearly agrees with him!
All the best
Andrew
Sarah Guy says:
Mar 3, 2015
Aw – as Andrew says, lovely to see Ross living the Texan dream!
Chris Salmon says:
Mar 4, 2015
Another ex-Time Outer checking in. Great to see Ross (and to hear of your adventures). Really hope to make it out to the Phoenix some day.
Laura Lee says:
Mar 5, 2015
What a lovely piece – yes Ross and Debbie have created a great place. And so glad to have found your posts, Ruth and Will, I’ll be following regularly now!
Gareth Evans says:
Oct 27, 2020
How great is this! Ok so I am only five years late to the party but Ruth and Will – what a journey – and great to see Ross is living his dream! onwards! Gareth (Film – 2000-5)