Mama's Tacos owner to open two Sports Bar 850 locations in Pensacola this summer
From the makers of Pensacola Mexican restaurant Mama’s Tacos comes their brand-new venture ? Sports Bar 850 ? with two locations slated to open this summer. The first, located at 5190 Mobile Highway, is set to open in August, and the second at 7250 Plantation Road will follow close behind in September.
Owner Leonardo “Freddy” Morales is continuing what he has started at Mama’s Tacos by bringing more nights filled with good music, food and dancing to the Pensacola area.
"Our objective and goal is to offer more activities, more entertainment around this area, because there's not much to do," Morales said. "I believe we have done that a lot at our other restaurant, which is Mama Tacos, and on this side, we're going to do even more, because we're going to be open longer hours and have more entertainers especially the people are going to be more socialized, since that atmosphere environment is more friendly, more fun, enthusiastic."
Instead of having space to host about 300 people in his restaurant, he’ll be looking to host 500 to 600 people in each of his two sports bars.
In the daytime, he sees 850 as a place to catch up with friends, catch a sports game and snack on some handhelds ? like burgers, birria tacos and tortas. By night, there’s dancing, DJ’s and signature drinks ? the night set to the soundtrack of “Shots,” which are the lyrics painted along the Plantation Road location’s main bar.
As you walk through the Plantation Road location, which is on the cusp of completion, it feels more like an art gallery than a bar. A giggling Marilyn Monroe beaming with a wind-blown dress. Homer Simpson drooling, mouth hazily draped over a pint of beer. The statue of liberty pausing for a selfie. There will even be a lounge room dedicated for guests to snap a photo with various hand-painted photo backdrops while waiting for a table or spot to slide in at the bar.
“People are going to take lots of photos,” Morales said.
Artist Ricardo Barreiro has worked alongside Morales for months to depict iconic figures from decades past in a fresh and funky way catered to the younger generation.
He created at least 40 separate art pieces for the Plantation Road location alone, not counting the mural outside that took 50 days to complete. His work still isn’t done and anticipates he will continue adding pieces right up until opening day.
"It just makes me feel more like my age," said 23-year-old Morales of the artwork. "It makes me feel like I'm gonna have a good time here, either a good time or crazy night."
Morales said he is looking forward to bringing a piece of nightlife to Pensacola that is filled with “color, scenery, vibrancy, and enthusiasm.”
They will have drinks ready to fuel late nights, including some signature drinks like one of his favorites, the Sugar Daddy, filled with flavors of dragon fruit and tequila.
He intends for the sports bars to embody some of the big-city energy already happening in cities like Miami, and hopes the two will be destinations in Pensacola.
"We're just trying to help grow Pensacola so more tourists can come visit our city and just make it more like, 'Why should I go to Pensacola? Why should I come to Pensacola and visit?' Visit these two spots," Morales said.
More updates and information can be found on the Sports Bar 850 Facebook pages.
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This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Sports Bar 850 to open two locations in Pensacola this summer
