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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (July 28, 1994)
ursday * July 28, m passages rtly because of that, ice were able to depli differently, which ma ssulted in a sma t in more serious crime 3 aso school enrollmeci ital births both droppt But the findings wei and would need an said, blockade’s deterren med to lessen as month it still remained, ys in legal crossin ;s, or backups, led somi i cross illegally, Bea at led researchers ti lore Immigration am nation Service worker led. icause of severs 1 confiscations of lega •ossing cards shortl blockade began, som si dents with the card using them, for fea s would be confiscated lenomenon could havi ct on “trade am ssues,” Bean noted, mse agents cease eople in El Paso, ther ver complaints o it, Bean said. day jrvice: Center for 3 a Strong Interest (requires completion o ; in advance) from n Hall. Call the Cede 45-4427 for more n service that lists faculty events and d be submitted no advance of the ication deadlines mts and will not t u have any he newsroom at A Tale Of Two Bars Chicken and Duddley's provide studies in contrasts - and beer, too By Jeremy Keddie The Battalion U B SES LANDS dydro curve) rble ...INCLUDES STANDARD ;es. T LENSES, tment 3.D., P.C. TRY irds of a feather flock togeth er” and the same is true for those who frequent two of Northgate’s main fixtures - the Dixie Chicken and Dud- dley’s Draw. The burger and beer establishments, each with its own distinct atmosphere, have served their varieties of food, drink and en tertainment to the Bryan-College Station ' oriimuhity sihce the ’7Ds. — Formerly a pool hall known as The Aggie Den, the Dixie Chicken has been offering Aggies a country atmosphere for 20 years. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m., “the Chicken” maintains its reputation as a true "Texas bar.” When anyone walks into the Dixie Chick en, the search for friends and a table de mands immediate attention. That atmos phere can intimidate some first-timers, but they will soon find themselves hollering and stomping to the music. The establishment caters mostly to fans of old country music and is frequented by those who love playing dominoes. Most domino lovers prefer the Dixie Chicken to Duddley’s Draw, arguing that the tables nd design of the establishment offer a bet ter atmosphere for games and that the Chicken simply offers more players. But choosing either bar has its advan ces. “Other than domino playing, I prefer Dudd’s,” David Holden said. h you tire of dodging the brims of cow boy hats, Duddley’s Draw, a Northgate landmark since 1977, is located next to the nion editor J hoto editor ts editor )N, Agg/eZ/fe editor am, Ellie Hudson, Sara Tracy Smith Varren Mayberry, and iwlikowski, Elizabeth bring the fall and is (except University ?e paid at College Id Building, |exas M University in the fitorial offices are in Stew Milne/THE Batta.lion Standing room only crowds are the norm on weekends in the Chicken, where tables are used to play dominos. Dixie Chicken and varies sig nificantly from its neighbor. Consisting of two rooms sep arated by the bar, the estab lishment attracts an “older” crowd and has been described as having an intellectual and laid-back atmosphere. “At Duddley’s you’re more likely to run into graduate stu dents and professors than at the Chicken,” said A&M stu dent Tjm Cockerham. A possible reason for the dif ference in patrons is simple - Duddley’s closes the doors to minors at 8 p.m., leaving the Dixie Chicken as the only viable option for the under-21 set. Duddley’s Draw provides for a quieter and at times more relaxed atmosphere for gathering with friends and discussing the questions of life - or just how your day went. Music forms a second distinction between the two. The selection at Duddley’s Draw consists of classic rock and blues, as op posed to the Chicken’s country flavor. Although the Dixie Chicken offers the Deathburger, which is sure to give your bowels a twist from jalapenos and Tabasco sauce, those who have problems with caged rattlesnakes staring at them while they eat may opt to eat a Duddley’s Delight in the back room of Duddley’s Draw, where the wildlife is scarce. Each bar attracts customers who become faithful regulars. Many people choose to fre quent both. Whether it be the atmosphere or the going rate of a pitcher of beer, it seems most evident that friends’ tastes make the difference. “The main reason why I don’t go to Duddley’s is because my friends prefer the Chicken,” said A&M senior Greg Sparkman. “And because of the dominoes.” Both establishments have porches facing University Drive, and Cockerham said he believes the front porch of Duddley’s is the best place for drinking outside. The crowd at that spot seems to indicate that many people share his view. Cockerham continued by de scribing his preference of Dud- Battalion File Photo In the 70s, Don Ganter converted the Aggie Den to the Dixie Chicken; Duddley’s would open a few years later. dley’s Draw as pertaining to the neutrality of the establishment. “They really don’t care what you look like or who you are,” Cockerham said. So whether you are looking for a tame place to philosophize about life or an estab lishment wild enough to host a pair of rat tlesnakes, you can find it at Northgate. Duddley’s patrons gather to talk across tables notched with years of A&M graffiti. New clubs set to break onto scene Owners of Northgate bars continue to shape the future of A&M's traditional nightlife locale By Christi Erwin The Battalion A lthough Duddley’s Draw and The Chicken claim traditional popularity among Northgate patrons, this stature could fall subject to change very soon. In the past few years, clubs and restaurants such as The Cue, Northgate Cafe, Freebird’s and The Bullseye have opened, vying for a piece of the A&M market across the street. These establish ments will soon contend with more competition; however, they may also enjoy a few improvements. Shadow Canyon, a country and western dance club to open in the old Campus Theater building, is set to begin business in late September or early October. Don Ganter, owner of the Dixie Chicken and Shadow Canyon, said he chose the canyon theme because the building, with its high walls and sunken floor, is shaped much like a canyon. The club will replace the old theater’s film screen with a stage and add a balcony encompassing the entire club, thereby utilizing the original architecture. Ganter said he hopes to attract Lyle Lovett or Jerry Jeff Walker to sing in his new club. Shadow Canyon also will have two bars, upstairs and down stairs, as well as a large dance floor. “We will have the second largest dance floor in the county,” he said. “We are only beat out by the great Texas Hall of Fame.” He said he will not alter the outside appearance of the theater because of its historical value. . • “There is nothing wrong with hanging on to heritage,” he said. Ganter said he is not too worried that Shadow Canyon will taka away business from the Dixie Chicken, * “Shadow Canyon will not be in direct competition with the Dixie Chicken because it’s a beer joint and Shadow Canyon is a dance place,” he said. “I hope people will bounce back and forth.” Another change coming to Northgate is Fitz Willy’s, a bar and grill to open in mid-August, located in the former Two Pesos build ing. Richard Benning, owner of Duddley’s Draw and Fitz Willy’s, said the menu will offer a variety of foods such as stuffed jalapenos, hamburgers, chicken and vegetarian dishes. The restaurant will give customers the option to place orders at the counter or be served by the wait staff, he said. Fitz Willy’s differs from other businesses on Northgate because of its full mixed drink bar. “I think the clientele, especially the females, will appreciate the full mixed drink bar and state of the art bathrooms,” he said. Benning said the music at Fitz Willy’s also makes it different from the other establishments on Northgate. “We will play country rock. Not just country and not just rock,” he said defining the music as ranging from Vince Gill to ZZ Top. In addition to the attraction of unusual music and a mixed drink bar, Benning said people will enjoy Fitz Willy’s because it is locally owned and operated. “Fitz Willy’s will be local flavor,” he said. “People will recognize this, and appreciate that it is not another franchise.” Please see Future/Page 4 The way we were... Clockwise from right: The Northgate ofthe 1950s; a view fom campus in 1921; ’50s Cadets window shop near the present location of the Texas Aggie Bookstore; a night time shot of the Aggie land Studio on College Main
