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End of a Friggin Era

My sister just sent me an email. The Hofbrau's gone. Even though it was more recently known as Penn Station, it will always remain in the hearts of the countless barflies who passed through its doors each morning as The Hofbrau.

"Gone" as in bulldozed. To the ground. It's dead. Nicht mehr. Bleeding deceased.

I worked (and lived) at the Hofbrau back in the early to mid-1980s along with my ex-wife and ex-girlfriend and a cast of characters including world famous bartender Mary Schwering, Owners Skip and Danny. Pepper "Stinkfoot," the midget bartender and many more.

I noticed that flags are at half-staff. Fitting is what I say.

(Anyone have any photos of this fine establishment?)

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Comment by Adelita on November 24, 2009 at 5:06pm: Wow! I remember a friend of mine and I crawling through the drive through window to get in... because one of us had forgotten to bring an I.D. Ah, good times!

Comment by Stephanie James on November 24, 2009 at 5:43pm: The Hofbrau. Always crowded. Good times.

Comment by Dick Chingadero on November 24, 2009 at 8:25pm: Nice tribute there, Doug.

There was a time back in the early 80s when a certain unnamed person had the opportunity to shoot a Sharps 50 caliber buffalo rifle out the back door of the Hofbrau. They shot at the dumpster. The superheated round when through the front of the dumpster (with the hole closing up afterward) through the back of the dumpster and through the cinderblock wall of the carpet warehouse behind it. I was riding my bike by there a while back and, on a lark, checked the wall. The hole is still there. You can see if for yourself. That's history, Mister. That's some history.

Comment by Dick Chingadero on November 24, 2009 at 8:42pm: Agreed!

Oh, and I also remember the morning bartender who was known as "Old" Mary because she was around 80 years old. She worked two jobs, had a beehive hairdo to the ceiling, loved to dance, and usually gave your change to someone else.

Comment by Bret on November 24, 2009 at 8:46pm: Gene!Hoooood!
Good times!

Comment by cathyray on November 24, 2009 at 9:02pm: I, too, have spent many hours there & most likely crossed drunken paths with all of you there. I have crawled in & out of that drive up window more than several times! I saw it flattened the other day. I felt a little twinge remembering what seems like another lifetime to me.

Comment by Dick Chingadero on November 24, 2009 at 9:11pm: @Bret. Dude!! That is so friggin awesome! (Thought I never knew it was Albuquerque's Favorite Sports Bar. -- I thought it was just our favorite dive bar.) Gene Hood! Hell yeah. I remember when we first brought Gene in. Dave Evans had been playing there on a regular basis. Then Gene. Then Harvey and the Howlers/Prowlers.

@cathyray. I bet we did cross paths back then. I worked the drive-up window for about 8 months until my marriage fell apart and I started dating one of the waitresses.

A lot of meth and coke floating around in those dangerous days.

Comment by Cara on November 25, 2009 at 7:20am: I feel your pain. My favorite bar in Albuquerque is now a pizza place (WTF???) Hofbrau has joined Fat Chance in the great watering holes in the sky.
I didn't note any meth and coke at FC, but there was an abundance of weed, fo shiz.

Comment by cathyray on November 25, 2009 at 9:09am: The meth was flowing, take it from me. It cost me a marriage.

Comment by trenchmonkey on November 25, 2009 at 9:49am: Late 70's breakfast stop for me. M&M peanuts...a shot...a beer, then off to work!
R.I.P. old friend, I'm still standin'....go figure. :)