Maybe Lola’s Saloon-Stockyards started a trend. The speakeasy/cellar-bar on West Exchange Street that opened about a year ago isn’t a C&W joint, isn’t a Mex-Mex restaurant, and isn’t a steakhouse — in short, it isn’t a traditional Stockyards establishment — but it is thriving. Now along comes The Rocket, a bar/restaurant/live acoustic music venue on North Main that’s about to open in a couple of weeks and that will have a “rustic bordello theme,” according to Frank Ocampo, who co-owns the place with Terry Wiley. “We’ve been pumping up our motto,” Ocampo said. “Good food, cheap beer, and live music.”
The co-owners had been looking for a place for months before finally settling on the building at 1416 North Main St. last month. “It’s a great location,” Ocampo said. “We didn’t need a lot of money to get open, and the place is fully stocked.” Ocampo, a North Side High School grad with friends in the area, said response from passersby has been positive. “They’re thankful it’s not another Mexican restaurant,” he said with a laugh. The building’s main feature is a two-story patio out back that can hold about 120 people. The patio is where the live music will happen. But, Ocampo said, “There is a neighborhood behind us. We can’t get too crazy.” The dining room will seat about 60, and the menu will feature traditional bar fare: burgers, wings, and nachos. On the juke will be a lot of rockabilly and ’70s punk, and, on the walls, vintage rock-concert posters, a 7-foot-wide steer head, and photos of Bettie Page-esque “pin-up girls” — Ocampo’s wife is a “pin-up girl” photographer. The Rocket is new ground for both owners. It will mark both Ocampo’s and Wiley’s entrée into bar ownership, though both are industry veterans — Ocampo has tended bar around town for years, and Wiley managed Jack’s Off The Wall, the bar/restaurant on White Settlement Road that is now Lambert’s Steaks, Seafood & Whiskey. Ocampo expects to have about 25 employees and is still hiring. The place will be open at least five days a week. It will be closed Sundays and possibly Mondays. … As part of our Music Awards every year, we produce a compilation CD of select nominees’ music. We’ve sold a bunch so far, with proceeds going toward our charity sponsor, Tarrant Area Food Bank — and we’re a couple hundred bucks away from a grand. More copies are available. For the measly sum of $5, you’ll get 11 tracks that have come out over the past year and one classic track: “When They Come For You” by The February Chorus’ Brandin Lea. The rest: The Burning Hotels‘ “Where’s My Girl?,” Fate Lions‘ “The Girls Are Alright,” Rivercrest Yacht Club‘s “The Tuck,” The Orbans‘ “Were Her,” AwkQuarius‘ “Let’s Hit the Town,” The Campaign‘s “The Easy Way” (which won Rock Song of the Year), James Hinkle‘s “Ball and Chain,” Clint Niosi‘s “My Mephistophilis,” Bob Fante‘s “Go Go Supertoy,” Keegan McInroe‘s “Hey, Jovan,” and Chatterton‘s “Thrown Out.” Just send an e-mail to associate editor Anthony Mariani with your name and snail-mail address, and he’ll get one out to you pronto. Thanks again for your continued support, and thanks to all of the artists who donated songs.
Contact HearSay at hearsay@fwweekly.com.
