Historic 11th Street Cowboy Bar hit market

The 11th Street Cowboy Bar in Bandera, otherwise known as “The Biggest Little Bar in Texas,” is up for sale.

The half-acre property is listed for $1,459,000, according to San Antonio Business Journal. The listing agent for the bar is Rochelle Hunt of Hunt Real Estate. The historic property includes retail store Harleys & Horses as well as space out front to hitch your steed, according to the listing.

The Cowboy Bar’s owner, James McGroarty, said he’s selling because he’s suffering from health complications. McGroarty has operated the bar since opening it in 2006.

Bandera, dubbed by locals as the “Cowboy Capital of the World,” is about 50 miles northwest of downtown San Antonio in Hill County. The town is one of the many Alamo City suburbs affected by Texas’ influx of newcomers. San Antonio’s population has increased by 20.46 percent since 2010, according to recent census data.

The wood-framed bar with a front porch receives a lot of business from tourists looking for that classic small town, South Texas experience, says McGroarty. The venue offers a variety of dancing and live music, and hosts a number of special events, most notably the annual Cowboy Mardi Gras Parade and Party.

The cowboy aesthetic of the bar matches many of the dude ranches in Bandera. It’s a destination for “all brand of folks, from cowboys to cowgirls, bikers to businesswomen,” according to its Facebook page. “Don’t be surprised to see bras of all sizes hanging from the ceiling, and don’t be offended if you’re not asked to leave yours,” the page also notes.

In 2008, the 11th Street Cowboy Bar was the host to Live on CNN during the Texas Presidential Primary and Texas Elections.

McGroarty said he wants the future owner to maintain the bar’s cowboy culture traditions.