New Old West-Themed Bar & Grill Opens in Downtown Waukee

Move over Chop's Old Bank and Kenny's Pub. There's a new bar in town.

The Whiskey Barrel Saloon at 360 Sixth St. is officially open for business. The combination bar and grill made its grand debut last Friday night.

Andrew Hanshaw, 38, is the owner of the Whiskey Barrel Saloon and says he's excited to be in Waukee.

"I remember once I got my motorcycle, visiting out here and walking from Kenny's Pub to Chops and seeing this neat-looking bar right here," he said. "Here were are, six years down the road and I had the opportunity to open it."

Hanshaw said not all was smooth sailing even earlier this year. After six years in business at the El Azteca Restaurant in the Capital Square Center in downtown Des Moines, Hanshaw shuttered the popular lunch spot in March. He says business just wasn't what it used to be.

It wasn't long after when Hanshaw struck a deal with Gary "Chops" Sayre, owner of Chops Old Bank and Mama Chops Triangle Cafe. Sayre was looking for a tenant for the small bar and Hanshaw was thinking he'd get into the bar business.

"He hadn't really utilized the bar side so me taking over would take a little bit of the pressure off him," Hanshaw said. "It was a lot and I think he was a little tired of doing it all so he signed the whole building over to me."

Hanshaw said with Mama Chops Triangle Cafe no longer in business, he'll be able to serve hungry patrons in Waukee from its former space next door to the bar.

By the end of the week, the Stagecoach Grill will serve a full menu for breakfast lunch and dinner - everything from traditional breakfast fare to appetizers, sandwiches, salads, steaks, even some signature "south of the border" menu items from Hanshaw's El Azteca restaurant.

At the Whiskey Barrel Saloon, Hanshaw said he wanted a comfortable Old West-themed space. On the walls, there's lots of cowboy and western decor. A traditional saloon sign hangs on the wall and a full saddle sits on a whiskey barrel in the front window.

What's being served is canned beer, a few different types of wine and a whole slew of liquor.

"I have limited cooler space, " he said. "So we have some basic canned beers, some wines and a lot of liquor. Nothing fancy. Nothing too fruity. In the saloon, we serve wine in a Redneck wine glass, if you've ever seen those."

All humor aside, Hanshaw said business has already taken off at the Whiskey Barrel Saloon thanks to word-of-mouth and a little help from social media. You'll find the bar on Facebook and Twitter.

"Everyone in Waukee has been real supportive," Hanshaw said. "I think things are going really well."

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The Stagecoach Grill and the Whiskey Barrel Saloon

Where: 360 Sixth St. (former Mama Chops Triangle Cafe)

Phone: (515) 978-2245

Hours: The Stagecoach Grill is open 6-11 a.m. for breakfast, 11-1:30 for lunch and 5-9 for dinner. The Whiskey Barrel Saloon is open 2 p.m. to 2 a.m., seven days a week.