Brad Moore (photo above) has pioneered a group of local bars for Houston’s young and hip. This new class of establishments began with Big Star Bar and includes neighborhood cornerstones Grand Prize Bar, OKRA, Moving Sidewalk, Bad News Bar, The Honeymoon and Johnny’s Goldbrick – and the list continues to grow. Where he’s going next, only Moore and his partners know. But, if you’re under 35, it will probably be your next favorite bar. We recently caught up with Moore to ask a few nosy questions.
What was your earliest ambition?
Freedom. Always freedom. Freedom to not worry about money. I always thought that freedom was working a bunch of shifts, then taking days off to blow through it. I never wanted to manage or own because then you’d always have something to do. Which is true. But I also came to realize that true freedom is to be able to work from your telephone from a hotel lobby in New Orleans.
Talk to us about local historical preservation.
There is always going to be expansion in Houston, but it is really important to me to be able to utilize our old buildings. We’ve had problems with the City of Houston on that. Not to insult them, but the City is used to permitting strip centers. So we’ve had problems with buildings that don’t have alleyways, for example. Preserving what we can of the old building that we have left is super-important, because they are beautiful and we can make great use of them. As long as the City can cooperate. (Laughs.)
What is your biggest extravagance?
Food, beverages and nice hotels. My truck is 12 years old, and my shirts are from Goodwill, but I am dining out constantly.
How physically fit are you?
I go to a gym, but spend most of my time in the steam room. I’m on my third yoga class. I ain’t no Chris Cusack [of the Treadsack group].
Is there a Houston bar or restaurant that inspired you early on?
Lola’s [2327 Grant] was one of the first bars I went to. I absolutely love it. I was living at the dorms at the University of Houston, and I felt like I had finally found my people. They were so friendly. Also, seeing Rob and Sarah [Cromie] of Cottonwood, Raven Grill and Picnic. I realized I wanted to live like those guys do, traveling all the time, and they insist on ordering the entire menu. Good liberal people who give back to their community. It’s beautiful. They helped me out when I started Pearl Bar.
Sig Byrd, a writer whose book Sig Byrd’s Houston is a collection of articles about what is now Market Square. In the 1950s and 1960s that neighborhood was Catfish Reef, a block of old underground jazz clubs with a bunch of heroin users and hookers. The book is pretty hard to get.
Do you have any rituals when you’re opening a new place?
The first song we play on the jukebox of every new place we open is Barracuda by Heart.
What cocktail ingredient or trend is currently on your radar?
More juice bar-meets-cocktail bar. I’d like to see more coconut juice, turmeric and ginger. It’s way more expensive. Every bartender is going to say you can’t do it, it’s too expensive. Also, more shots of Becherovka [an herbal liqueur from the Czech Republic].
You helped John Nova Lomax write the book Houston’s Best Dive Bars. Where would you send someone visiting Houston for the first time?
The Rose Garden, Big Star, West Alabama Ice House.
Your favorite food-and-wine pairing?
Champagne and raw seafood.
Favorite thing to whip at 3 am?
I wouldn’t cook. I’d get take-out tacos.