Originally Jerry Max Texas, Billy Bob’s was opened on April 1, 1980. Billy Bob Barnett set April Fools to be the opening date just incase the planned nightclub did not succeed. The founders of the famous restaurant are Billy Bob Barnett and Spencer Taylor. The original name was based after the local musician Jerry Max Lane to celebrate his success. The first name, Jerry Max Lane, was changed to Billy Bob’s due to licensing problems. According to my interview with Jenna, before the venue of Billy Bob’s was a restaurant, it was a one hundred thousand square foot department store. Billy Bob’s is located in Fort Worth’s stockyards which is home to honky tonk stores that represent the stereotype of the south.
Unlike other Texas style cuisines, I learned from Jenna that Billy Bob’s can fit up to six thousand customers in one sitting. This allows the Fort Worth community to be able to go to a fun place to socialize with family and friends anytime they want too. Jenna told me that to accommodate for the maximum population of the restaurant, Billy Bob’s has twenty acres of parking lot for parking and events. The restaurant is versatile with more things you can do for entertainment than any other restaurant in the community. For example, Jenna explained that every night Billy Bob’s has live entertainment from country’s biggest stars. The south is well represented at Billy Bob’s for what is has to offer. Besides the musical performances customer’s can enjoy, Billy Bob’s also has live pro bull riding. September to October, clients have the opportunity to witness the, “World’s richest bull riding with a payoff of eighty thousand dollars”. Another thing consumers have the opportunity to watch and participate in is Billy Bob’s Donkey Basketball. Donkey basketball contains all the rules of basketball but the player is on a bull (Billy Bob’s). In 1994, the famous bull rider, Lane Frost, opened his biopic at Bill and Bob’s. This was the shows World premier and was attended by famous costars. This sets the restaurant apart from others, due to the extent it goes to entertain it’s clients. Jenna informed me that customers can also enjoy the arcade, pool tables, and dance on the “country sized” dance floor. For a pleasant dining experience, this famous cuisine has various options for the consumer to choose from. Jenna explained that from the 30 bars it contains to the main restaurant and pizza kitchen, no customer is left unsatisfied.
Even though the style of food served at Billy Bob’s can be found all over Texas, it is highly valued among its customers. Since 1981, I learned from Jenna that seventeen million customers have traveled to Billy Bob’s from all over the World to dine there. This portrays the popularity of the restaurant due to all the attention and different people it attracts to Fort Worth. I also learned during my interview that the most popular items on the menu are the chicken fried steaks and the hand cut steaks. The chicken fried steak is, “handmade batter and fried to perfection with two sides” (Billy Bob’s). Billy Bob’s claims that their specialty is their Texas BBQ.
As previously mentioned, Billy Bob’s stands out against other restaurants for it’s live performances. Even though the bar usually has Country stars due to it’s honky tonk theme, Billy Bob’s has also hosted rock and pop stars according to Jenna. Famous country star George Strait, started off as an opening act at the restaurant. Jenna told me that other famous stars include Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Ray Charles, the Go-go’s and more. Another star that got his big break at Billy Bob’s is Billy Ray Cyrus. He performed his first hit single, “Achy Breaky Heart” at the restaurant and it was a sold out show. Most dining locations in Fort Worth do not have the privilege to host such big names in the music industry. Customers had the chance to be one out of six shows to watch the 1983 Grammy winner, Men at Work, perform after their award. The restaurant set a World Record for most beer sold at a show. This shows singer, Hank Williams Jr, reportedly sold sixteen thousand bottles of beer that night. This record still belongs to Billy Bob’s today. Another award that Billy Bob’s still holds today is the Country Music Club of the Year. In 2005, Billy Bob’s was recognized again by another magazine. Bar Magazine and Nightclub magazine voted Billy Bob’s the “Top Country Bar“. It won it for the first time in 1982 and has won this very prize twelve times since. No other diner in the city of Fort Worth can say they have a World Record, once again making Billy Bob’s unique from the rest.
Besides Billy Bob’s impact on the music industry, it has been an important part of Fort Worth history for other things as well. Many movies have had scenes filmed in Billy Bob’s. The first movie ever filmed at the honky tonk was the arm wrestling movie ‘Over the Top’. CBS’s Happy New Year America was filmed here for the first time they ever did this segment starring Charlie Daniel and Louis Mandell. Republicans attend Billy Bob’s during the Republican National Convention bringing in two thousand people for the party. The Washington Post reports, “If you’re not slightly amused by Billy Bob’s, something is seriously wrong with you”. George Strait, who started performing at the restaurant before he was famous, filmed part of his movie in Billy Bob’s. This movie was filmed in 1992 and is called ‘Pure Country‘. Alongside TV shows and major motion pictures, Billy Bob’s has also been used as a venue for music videos. Music star, Collin Raye, had his music video filmed here for his song, ‘I want you bad’. Country music star, Willie Nelson, decides to film himself performing in the night club and makes a CD and DVD out of it.Besides video entertainment, Billy Bob’s also has a book written about them. The book was written in 2001, and was made in honor of the the bar being opened for twenty years. Due to the l0ve for Billy Bob’s, the book was a success and sold around ten thousand copies. Not many other restaurants in Fort Worth have had the publicity of TV shows and movies like Billy Bob’s or has entertained highly influential people.
Billy Bob’s service, old school Texas feel, as well as an ability to book a variety of talented musical acts are what make it a cornerstone of the local Fort Worth experience. While there are other venues to find musical entertainment, none do a better job of combining big named artists with the honkytonk vibe that Billy Bob’s provides. Fort Worth is a city that is deeply rooted in the culture of agricultural Texas which includes music, food, and entertainment. If you are looking for a place for entertainment that best exemplifies Fort Worth, Texas, then Billy Bob’s is definitely the place for you.
“Billy Bob’s Texas – The World’s Largest Honky Tonk.” Billy Bob’s Texas. N.p, n.d. Web. 19 Oct, 2016.
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