The Ghent community has been whispering about the closing of a local bar for a little while now, but lately the whispers have been turning into more of a roar.

The official truth: San Antonio Sam’s, located on Colley Avenue, is going to be replaced by a Chipotle. Management tells me that the official close date is July 2nd.

Ah, the Sam's patio. (Pic | Joseph Zaremski, via Sam's FB)

There are opinions on both sides of the matter, but what else would you expect from an area such as Ghent: strong opinions are the norm. A few argue for Chipotle, some argue for Sam’s, and others argue that soon we won’t recognize Ghent at all, which was once a hub for locality and originality. No matter which side you sit on about Sam’s, you have to admit that with each new chain that enters the block we are losing a little bit of what makes Ghent great.

I didn’t write this to start any kind of argument but my personal thoughts on the matter are this: I love Sam’s. It’s no secret that on any given night you might find me there. I started going to Sam’s when I turned 21 and haven’t stopped since (26 now). I’ve seen bartenders come and go, menu changes, costume parties and drunken karaoke, all from a barstool beside fluorescent pink and green lights. I’ve met a lot of friends, a couple enemies, and drank more cherry bombs than I care to admit.

In the past two years Sam’s has definitely become my regular bar. The staff have become my friends. Yes, it’s a place where food is served and drinks are slung under the guise of a Texas Saloon, but it’s my Texas Saloon. I’m sure you have a favorite bar as well — a place where you walk in and the bartenders know your name or your favorite drink; you know the nightly specials and most of the patrons inside. And suddenly, it’s more than just a bar — it’s your hang out. This is Sam’s for me. A place I always enjoy being at. A place where my friends congregate on Friday nights. A place that I am beyond sad to see go. I’m not going to attack anyone: not Chipotle, not any owners, but I am going to say that I will miss the hell out of this place. Whenever I walk by that corner I will remember the awesome times I had there and wish it hadn’t ended so soon.

Fun at Sam's

To the regulars: You know who you are. We would be at Sam’s every night if our bank accounts allowed it. I appreciate the times we’ve had together. Whether it was dancing at 1am (clap, clap) or having a more serious discussion out on the patio, it was always enjoyable and interesting. I realize that, of course, not everyone that goes to Sam’s is a regular, and they’re not going to appreciate Sam’s like we do. But for those of us who have spent some time there, we really know how much it’s going to suck not to be able to hang out at the corner of Shirley and Colley on a random Tuesday night. We had a great comradery. I hope to see you around the HRVA block.

To Jeremy, Christy, Mike, Paul and Co: I wish you the best of luck in the next chapter of your life. You guys deserve the best and I hope you find it out there. Thank you for the time and effort that you put into Sam’s. Don’t be discouraged; you guys will be missed. Sam’s has been my haven and my hang out and I’m sure many others feel the same way. Thank you for always making it a great time.

Top 15 things I’ll miss about Sam’s

Cherry Limeades

The Music

Fun With Air Compressors

RuPaul’s Drag Race on Tuesday Night

Theme Parties (Gaga/ 90s/ Halloween ‘CarnEVIL’)

Dollar Tacos

Disney Song Sing-a-Long

The Patio

Trivia Night

The variety of patrons (Where’s Russell been, anyway?!)

Best drink deals in town on Monday & Tuesday nights

The Shake Weight

Having a place that I loved to hang out at and that all of my friends loved hanging out at any night of the week.

Hot Sauce Challenge Nights

And my favorite…which everyone knows…FLAUTAS!

San Antonio Sam’s has a Facebook page, and it is this. Make sure to check often to hear about their closing party.