Tony Douglass and Brian McCarty, the owners of Boots, hope for this new bar on Pearl Street to offer a fresh and welcoming environment for all bar-goers to enjoy. Douglass and McCarty are business partners at both Boots and The Rookery, a new restaurant on Campbell Road, formerly occupied by Eagles Nest. They opened this location on May 3, just three months prior to the opening of Boots.
Douglass and McCarty had initially intended to only open The Rookery, but Douglass said, “When the opportunity to open a new bar downtown presented itself we knew we had to jump on it.”
Boots exhibits a country-western theme. It sports decorative elements such as cactuses, cowboys and of course, boots. They push this theme further with their choice in music, playing songs by newer country artists such as Treaty Oak Revival, Wyatt Flores, and Zach Bryan.
“We could play songs like ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ and all the overplayed stuff you hear in every country bar, but we wanted something different,” said Douglass.
The layout inside of the bar is spacious and versatile, as it has both a first and second floor. “People have been really excited about the upstairs part,” said Douglass. He explained that he hopes utilizing the second level will create two different atmospheres and give people the choice to enjoy both.
“At Boots we are looking to cater to every audience. We want to appeal to people who are here to party, but we also want to be a place for people who prefer to just sit down and enjoy a really good quality drink,” said Douglass.
“It’s a very different atmosphere than other country bars in the area. We wanted somewhere more relaxed, where you don’t have to be elbow to elbow, where you can actually sit down and have a conversation,” said Jordan White, a bartender at Boots.
Since opening they have had a steady flow of business. The traction they have gained on social media through the Friday Beers Lax Instagram account has helped them hit the ground running. “The opening weekend was packed, and the bar crawl was busy too,” said bartender Sophia West.
When asked about what the most rewarding part of opening Boots has been so far, Douglas told The Racquet, “Just finally being able to see people in here who are happy and excited to be here after all of the work it took to get the doors open.”
“It’s different from other bars because all of us are so personable. We would all love to have a conversation with you. Which I think makes people more comfortable when they come in,” said West when asked what sets Boots apart from other bars.
When speaking about the employee atmosphere Douglass said, “We have a lot of fun, it’s a big family. The way I see it, I don’t like to think that I have people working for me. I honestly think of it the other way around, I work for them.”
Sophia West confirmed this and spoke on her experience bartending at Boots, “I love it. It’s so fun. It’s such a good atmosphere. The customers are great, my coworkers are great, my bosses are great. It’s such a welcoming environment that has accepted me with open arms.”
Between now and the first week in October they plan to add more character to the bar through activities and decor. Other plans they have in the works are to install a stage and hold live music events before the start of 2026.
You can find their weekly deals, such as Thursday Power Hour with $1 doubles, and others, posted on their Instagram.
“Give it a shot! It’s a great place, prices are good, and it’s a welcoming environment,” said White.
