The Original Owl Bar & Cafe

Cafe

Introduction

History

• 📅 Established: The Owl Bar & Cafe was established in 1945 by Frank and Dee Chavez.
• 🧪 Manhattan Project: Initially served workers from the Manhattan Project at the Trinity site.
• 🔥 Salvaged Bar: The mahogany bar was salvaged from the A.H. Hilton Mercantile after a fire in 1940.
• 👀 Atomic Blast: Proprietors were among the few witnesses to the first atomic blast.

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Famous Dishes

• 🍔 Green Chile Cheeseburger: Known for its world-famous green chile cheeseburger.
• 🥩 Fresh Ingredients: Meat is ground on the premises, patties are hand-formed.
• 🌶️ Special Chile: Uses a special blend of chile from the Albuquerque Tortilla Company.
• 🍟 French Fries: Hand-cut and fried to a golden-brown hue.
• 🍲 Beans and Green Chile: A favorite New Mexican comfort food.

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Location and Accessibility

• 📍 Address: 77 US-380, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA.
• 🗺️ Coordinates: 33°55′05″N 106°52′04″W.
• 🚗 Parking: Several parking lots available, often full during lunch and dinner hours.
• 🚌 Nearby: Located an hour south of Albuquerque.

Unique Features

• 💵 Wall of Dollars: Customers pin dollar bills to the wall, which are donated to charity annually.
• 🦉 Name Origin: Named after 'night owls' who gambled in the back of the bar.
• 🍇 Historical Vineyard: San Antonio was the site of New Mexico's first vineyard in 1629.

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Ownership and Management

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Business: Operated by the Chavez family for four generations.
• 👩 Current Owner: Janice Arabright, a descendant of the founders, currently manages the cafe.
• 📜 Tradition: Maintains the original recipe and methods for their famous dishes.

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Visitor Experience

• 🍽️ Dining Rooms: Several dining rooms available, often crowded during peak hours.
• 🕰️ Busy Hours: Lunch and dinner times see a significant influx of visitors.
• 🌟 Reviews: Highly rated for its green chile cheeseburgers and friendly atmosphere.
• 📸 Photo Ops: Popular spot for photos, especially with the unique wall of dollars.

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Nearby Attractions

• 🦅 Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge: Popular for bird-watching.
• 🏛️ Historical Sites: San Antonio is rich in history, including the birthplace of Conrad Hilton.
• 🍫 San Antonio General Store: Known for its homemade fudge and ice cream.

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Travel Information
📞   Phone: (575) 835-9946
🌐   Website: http://www.sanantonioowl.com/
🕒   Hours: See hours
📍   Address: 77 US-380, San Antonio, NM 87832

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