New Scooner’s owner aims for of age crowd
Scooners has reopened with a different attitude, its new owner says. The pub was shut down under its previous ownership for serving alcohol to minors.
By Antoinette Vega
Staff Reporter

Scooners new owner says the TCU-area pub will never be called the underage bar again.

Chris Baker, who took ownership in September, said more efforts are being put toward advertising and programming to detract customers from pubs in downtown Fort Worth and to bring in a different type of clientele.

“Just because we are located next to a college campus and have name recognition, does not mean we don’t need to advertise,” Baker said. “The more advertising we do, the more people we can bring in.”

He said he would like to work with the pubs on University Street to bring back the customers lost to places such as The Library and The Fox & Hound.

Baker recently bought a black 2003 BMW Mini Cooper, displaying the Scooners logo that he plans to drive around the Dallas/Fort Worth area. He also plans to place advertisements in Fort Worth Weekly.

Scooners reopened Oct. 2 after its permit was revoked by the Texas Alcoholic and Beverage Commission July 9 because of 28 citations for serving alcohol to minors under the former ownership of Paul Humphries.

Scooners will not be a target for inspections anymore than it had been before, said TABC Sgt. Robert Cloud.

“Just because Scooners was in trouble in the past does not mean they will be in trouble again,” Cloud said. “Since Scooners, along with the other bars on University Street are in an area surrounded by young adults, it will be visited more than other places.”

Baker said by increasing the variety of alcohol offered and offering theme nights, Scooners is targeting a more sophisticated crowd.

“You won’t be able to find someone young enough to wear braces in this bar anymore,” Baker said. “I want to make this bar appealing to juniors, seniors and older.”

Some think he is already succeeding.

Jeff Pavell, a senior marketing major, said he went to Scooners when he was a sophomore because Scooners failed to check driver’s licenses. He said he prefers the new Scooners over the previous one because of the difference in the crowd.

“Before, Scooners used to be packed wall to wall with students who were mostly under 21,” Pavell said. “Now, it is more laid back and it’s enjoyable to be around people who are more mature.”

Antoinette Vega