GEORGE'S on 66

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

GEORGE'S on 66

For three generations the Hagiparis family have owned and operated several successful bars & restaurants along the Watson & Chippewa strip of south St. Louis. The location at 7895 Watson Road, formerly known as "Danno's", is ready for a resurrection as "George's on 66", an homage to its former namesake - based on its originator & the family patriach George Hagiparis.

However, as its an aging historic building (built in 1948), some elements of its infrastructure have been needing repair for a number of years. Since we closed our business in 2015 to deal with some personal family issues, some of those lingering problems have worsened, making our reopening especially difficult.

We're ready for a revival & need some help from our friends for a much needed facelift. With the necessary renovations and our family's generational knowledge & dedication to this industry, "George's on 66" will offer patrons an unforgettable visit - adding another story to the history of America's most beloved highway.

(George & Joyce Hagiparis at the Bungalow on Eichelberger, sometime in the 1950s)

A FAMILY'S PASSION

George Hagiparis had a long history of success in the bar/restaurant business, including Georgetown Lounge (@7940 Watson Rd, from 1961-66), El Greco (@6984 Chippewa, from 1966-71), and the Hagiparis Restaurant (@6600 Chippewa, from 1971-78). Eventually, once he opened "George's Visions" in 1978 at 7895 Watson Rd, he realized the property perfectly suited his business needs and he remained there until the end of his days. The bar changed over the years from a dance club in the 80s with a big screen featuring music videos (a novel approach at the time), to a family sports bar & restaurant in the 90s when it evolved into "George's Rt 66 Bar & Grill". With George's passing in 2000, the reigns were handed over to his daughter, Linda Hagiparis, who had spent years under the tutilage of her father. She continued to operate "George's" until 2004 when she decided to take a break from the bar industry to pursue other business endeavors.

The family retained ownership of the property during this interim period between 2005-2009 after selling the business to another owner. In 2009, after the departure of the prior tennets, the family reopened the bar as "Danno's American Pub". Danno's became a hit with the local community - appealing to clientelle who used to frequent the old George's, as well as newer patrons from nearby areas such as Webster University. George's grandson, Chris Muether, joined the St. Louis chapter of the "United States Bartender's Guild" and expanded his knowledge of the industry. He learned the history of classic cocktails and mixology, and imparted his newfound fascination to his customers who were becoming curious and receptive to these new industry trends. Chris also expanded a formerly Anheuser Busch dominated beer menu to include microbrews and craft beer from around the US and abroad.

By returning to the namesake of "George's on 66", we hope to honor the legacy of the man who started it all and the historic highway he loved. We wish to serve the community by offering a watering hole that will cater to their wants and needs. We want to provide an establishment that cares about its neighborhood... a place where everyone really does know your name.

OUR CONCEPT

Being well situatated and visable to passers-by on Watson Rd has proven to be a big factor in the long-lived success of this location. Marlborough is easily accessable to customers from nearby areas (Webster Groves, Afton, Brentwood, Shrewsbury, Maplewood, St. Louis Hills/South Hampton, and South City are all within miles of the location). This accessibility made a wide-ranging demographic of customers feel welcomed over the years. As a neighborhood bar, George's will continue to do what Danno's did best, offering a variety of entertainment and an atmosphere that appeals to customers of many backgrounds & interests.

THE BAR
In its prior incarnation, Danno's received critical acclaim from local news magazines such as the Riverfront Times (Best Neighborhood Bar, Mid-County 2011), Sauce, Alive, and others for blending the comfort of the casual neighborhood dive, with the selection and expertise of the most modern mixology-driven cocktail bar or craft brewpub. George's on 66 looks to expand on this juxtaposition by offering a menu of unique house-created cocktails & shooters, and a well curated beer & wine list. Although elevating the quality of the product behind the bar is a trend that has become more commonplace in recent years, there are not many bars doing what Danno's did - and what George's will continue to do - in the nearby area. This bar will also aim to provide a wide range of price-points and options - appealing to the casual drinker and connoiseur alike.

Since the closing of Danno's, head bartender Christopher Muether (featured as an RFT Bartender of the Week), has expanded his behind-the-bar skillset by guest bartending at local hotspots Planter's House, Sanctuaria, Layla, Miracle on Chouteau, and the new Delta Queen Port of Call. At Planter's House, he presented a menu entirely comprised of his own cocktail creations, and had the priviledge of working alongside part-owner and cocktail guru Ted Kilgore. He also worked at Miracle on Chouteau during the 2016 holiday season, a Christmas themed pop-up bar brought to St. Louis by the owners of Planter's House that received critical acclaim for its unique concept. At Sanctuaria, he collaborated with former bar manager Matthew Koch (now at Nixta & Parigi) to create a Tiki inspired menu featuring classic island drinks and new creations inspired by the genre. Now at the Delta Queen, Chris is in collaboration with beverage director Nate Selsor (formerly of Monarch, Demun Oyster Bar, & Público) bringing world class cocktails to Kimmswick. These experiences have strenghened Chris' ties within the industry and exposed him to the workings of some of St. Louis' best back bars, serving as inspiration for some of the renovations the new George's plans to undertake.

ENTERTAINMENT
Of equal importance to a top notch beverage program is hosting entertainment options that captivate an audience. As a neighborhood bar, George's will cater to a diverse range of tastes and interests to keep its guests having fun. We realize that you can drink anywhere - so creating an atmophere that brings people together to have amazing experiences and meaningful in-person social interaction is desperately needed in times where the modern world can seem rather isolating and withdrawn.

George's on 66 will feature a wider selection of live performances than in the past. We will feature local musicians playing original songs, DJs who spin a variety of genres, karaoke, open mic music nights, & lip-sync competions. The emphasis on cover bands will be less so than in the bar's past, but will likely return on special occasions to accompany the appropriate events & parties. In addition to live music, George's will feature open mic stand-up comedy, burlesque shows, competitive video game tournaments, billiard/foosball leagues, table top gaming & texas hold'em poker, trivia, bags (cornhole) tournaments, speed dating meet-ups, and movie nights/film screenings.

In our 35+ years of business we have had the pleasure of employing some amazingly creative people who have offered their unique gifts in serving our patrons. We are excited to give many more talented entertainers & artists the opportunity to work with us and become a part of our extended family.

FOOD
Every bar needs great food to pair with great drinks. With a large floor plan available to comfortably seat 50-60 patrons, George's plans to utilize the lunch and dinner hours to offer guests a fantastic dining experience. Rather than overwhelm the customer with too many options, the menu will emphasize quality over quantity, with a compendiary selection of items that are all prepared in-house with minimal frozen or pre-packaged ingredients. The menu will feature various spins on classic pub food favorites - burgers, sandwiches, pizza, salads - all made with fresh foods. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free dining options will also be made available to cater to those with particular dietary needs. Linda Hagiparis will look to include special homemade items that alude to the family's Greek heritage. George's also aims to offer a great late night menu as well, which is sorely lacking in the area.

PROJECT GOAL

Through this crowdfunding campaign we are looking to raise $45,000 to begin work on restoring our historic bar & restaurant to Route 66. These funds will allow us to start the restoration of our roof which needs resurfacing and repairs. It will also allow us to bring our electrical work up to code to turn the lights back on so the real hands on work of remodeling the interior can begin. With this much needed jump start, we can begin working towards bringing you the best bar we possibly can! Thank you so much for reading, and we hope to count you among our contributors so we can begin a new chapter in this multi-generational journey!

- Sincerely, Chris & Linda.

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REWARDS & PERKS (A more detailed description of each)

$5 - Everyone who can chip in and help out with this campaign with a five spot or greater will get their name included on a slide that will be projected on the wall during our official opening as a thank you for your support.

$20 - The first drink is on us! When we hold our grand opening we will be honored to buy your first drink as a toast for your generosity.

$75 - At the $75 contribution level, you will get 10 tickets for a drawing to be held at our grand opening event. We will be giving away a ton of awesome items - including vintage pieces of beer/liquor memorabilia, classic items from the original George's and Danno's years, and much more. Additional tickets will be available the night of our opening, but as a thank you we want to give you a bigger probability of walking away with a one-of-a-kind treasure.

$150 - Anyone who contributes at least $150 to this campaign will be invited to a soft opening party prior to the reopening of our establishment. We will have games and entertainment and it'll be an awesome way to celebrate our return to form. If there is an excessive number of contributors at this level, two different nights may be set aside for soft opening parties to accommodate everyone & to stay in line with fire code regulations.

$250 - Those able to contribute at the $250 level or above will have their name immortalized with a brick in the wall of the structure. This is a great way to always have a piece of you with us as a part of the Hagiparis family for years to come.

$1000 - Contributors able to assist this project at the $1000 level or greater will be granted an open invitation to a contributors party to be held at the bar each month. This enables all of those who have passionately supported this project to socialize and stay connected. We will offer food and house made punch for the proceedings. We feel this is a great way to continue the community aspect of our neighborhood bar well into the future by celebrating with our biggest supporters.

$2500 - At this level we will create for you a custom 20oz metal stein (a vintage style tankard!) with any image or name you'd like on it. You may take your commemorative drinkware home of course, or have it hung behind our bar where you can always grab a pint for the same price as a normal 16oz glass.

$5000 - To all who contribute at or in excess of $5,000 will be considered Project Sixty-Six VIPs and will be issued a special VIP card where you will receive 15% off any bill at the establishment for as long as it exists. This kickback is designed as a huge thank you for allowing us to achieve our dream of reopening our family's business.