UPDATE: The True Story Behind The Lonely Shakers Sign In Amarillo, Texas

I recently wrote about the Shakers sign hanging out by itself in an empty parking lot in Amarillo, Texas and had several questions. Once Bailey's entered the equation, I had even more questions. Those questions have all been answered thanks to a former owner who set the story straight.

Shakers Amarillo, Texas; Sports Bar, Karaoke, Dancing, Live Music

According to the information given to me by a former owner, Shakers was the place to be. It was supposedly really popular with the sports crowd. Karaoke and live music were staples of Shakers. The owner said it was really popular with softball players and pool players.

Eventually, the owner decided to lease it out and the name was changed to Bailey's. A sign for the new name was added above the one for Shakers, which stayed right where it always was. I suppose you think of it as a kind of tribute to the much-loved night spot.

Covid, Fire, Permits, And The End Of An Era

Though the name was changed to Bailey's, it stayed pretty much the same it always had been and continued to be popular. When I tell people about the lonely sign and where it's located, they always ask me if I mean Bailey's. It continued to be popular.

Then 2020 came, and with it the pandemic. While the rest of the world was grappling with the spread of Covid-19, the owner of Bailey's/Shakers was dealing with the building catching fire. According to the owner, the fire department was able to put the fire out, but once everyone was gone the building sparked back up. In their words, that's "what did it in".

Unfortunately, they weren't able to recover. The former owner said that there were many attempts to rebuild, but the City wouldn't issue any permits. The decision was made to tear it down and then eventually to sell the property.

All that remains now is the lone sign standing on Bell Street, a simple reminder of what once was.