In the time that I’ve been helming this column (nearly six years, as of this writing), I’ve written about some places (Lola’s Saloon, Caves Lounge, A Great Notion, Applebee’s) more than others because they have a prominence and/or relevance to Fort Worth livin’ that stands out to me in a notable yet indescribable way. For example, I could say that I’ve written a lot about Lola’s because it’s where most of the best and biggest rock ’n’ roll shows happen, but it’s also a place where lots of people go, so the assumption of shared experience means I don’t have to spend precious column inches talking about what Lola’s looks –– and sounds and smells –– like. Lazy writing? Probably, but it gets to the part where the band was good or not and somebody (me, usually) may or may not have thrown up on the patio.
One of those places receiving an inordinate amount of coverage was Spencer’s Corner, a two-story bar that went out of business four years ago, itself a revival of one of the most infamous clubs in Fort Worth history that was shuttered in the late ’70s. For a Fort Worth bar, the modern Spencer’s was trashy and wild, thoroughly ensconced in its forbear’s heyday of sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll. The “new” Spencer’s Corner carried that phenotype in drinks that were as strong as they were cheap (rocket-fueled hurricanes for a $1.75 or some such), tacky fun like wet t-shirt contests, and a wall of framed photos depicting presumably drunken female customers exposing their T&A from 35 years ago — at one point, while I was standing there ogling the pics, this chick I know pointed at one and said, “That’s my mom. Right there.”
The bar’s owners (the original’s owner and his son) wanted to get in on the live music scene, which, four years ago, was just starting to pick up some real steam. The club’s location, on the West Side near the Ridgmar Mall, sort of made that difficult — it was just kind of out there by itself, without any other compelling neighbors (a nice restaurant or some other bars) to entice traffic. I booked Spencer’s for about a month in the summer of 2010, and despite offers of exorbitant guarantees, it was hard to get a marquee local band to play there, made more difficult because the owners wanted these bands to play on Sundays.
Spencer’s Corner closed for good in the fall of 2011, and the space remained unused until about a month ago.
Three friends and I dropped by The Corner Bar on Sunday afternoon after noticing a banner advertising that the place was open at “ :00.” Later inside, after a round of shots and beers, I learned that a 4 had fallen from the sign.
When you entered Spencer’s Corner from the Green Oaks side (as opposed to the bottom door, which faced the mall’s expansive parking lot), you’d see a dancefloor fenced in by rails and cocktail tables, abutting a big stage, four feet high, with enough room to fit Earth, Wind & Fire, Chicago, and Blood, Sweat & Tears at the same time. Josh Weathers’ six-piece outfit played there pretty frequently way back when. Now, however, the first thing you see when you walk in is a smallish, octagonal paddock hemmed in with a chain-link fence. A hung banner reads, “UFC LIVES HERE.”
After a ton of research (read: poking around the screen on my phone for about two minutes), I learned that the original name for this post-Spencer’s place was apparently The Cage Sports Bar and Grill, obviously named for the fighting pen in the middle of the room. I may not know my UFC, but I do know that bars, especially sports bars, are great places for fisticuffs, and if The Corner Bar intends on sticking to its happy-hour pricing of a buck-frickin’-50 for domestic drafts and well drinks, then that cage is going to fill up nightly. “And in this corner, we have Triglyceride Tony, Whose Nephew Is Paulie Ayala’s Lawn Guy. So let’s get ready to rumbuuullle!”
Downstairs appears to be a weekends-only dance club. During our visit, I tried the doors (on the mall side) and discovered they were locked, so if you go, be sure to wind your way to the entrance on Green Oaks. In fact, please check this place out. And report back to me. (Lazy, remember?) I’d like for it to stick around long enough to write about it again, to see if it carves its out own Fort Worth nightlife niche. –– Steve Steward
Contact Last Call at lastcall@fwweekly.com.
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The Corner Bar
2308 Mall Circle, FW. 817-570-7020.
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