Thanks for twenty-five great years, Lawrence

 

Well, friends, it’s been almost a month since our last big shindig. Can we just say, we’re STILL tired? You all know how to party!

We expanded our annual birthday bash to two nights this year, to celebrate the first anniversary of our neighbors across the street at Sandbar Subs and also to celebrate our 25th year in downtown Lawrence.

Twenty-five years. Crazy, huh?!

And you all didn’t disappoint—both nights, our little block was jam-packed with friends and family who traveled from near and far to party with us, listen to the music, drink some beer and have a good time.

We didn’t take as many pictures as we usually do, but we have a few good ones in the slideshow up above to share. We’d love to see your pictures, too. If you have some, email them to us at sandbar@thesandbar.com; if you have a lot of photos, we can hook you up with a Dropbox or another method of transferring mass quantities of files. Just email us and let us know.

If you didn’t get a 2014 block party shirt, we have a few left in stock.

So, cheers! And while we can’t wait until next year’s party, don’t be a stranger. Stop by and see us!

P.S. More big party news coming up soon, stay tuned…

Sandbar Block Party 2014

Sandbar Block Party (photo credit: Jenn Hethcoat) | www.thesandbar.com

Help celebrate our 25th birthday!

That’s right, your favorite dive has been serving up tropical drinks in downtown Lawrence for 25 years now, and for the past five years we’ve celebrated our birthday every August with a giant block party in the street.

This year, the party gets even bigger! Join us for TWO NIGHTS—yes, two nights!— of live music, lots of beer, and more fun than people should be allowed to have.

Here’s all the details:

Friday, August 8

  • Celebrate Sandbar Subs World Headquarters’ first anniversary in downtown Lawrence
  • Live music from Heavy Petty and Sellout!
  • RSVP on Facebook and invite your friends

Saturday, August 9

  • Party with the Sandbar for our 25th birthday
  • Live music from Blue Orleans and Lost Wax
  • Giant inflatable pirate slide
  • Appearances by Captain Jack Sparrow and Barbossa
  • RSVP on Facebook and invite your friends

Both nights will feature a beer garden in the street in front of the bar. The cover charge for the beer garden is $5 each night, and you have to be 21 or older to come in.

However, the event itself is family-friendly, so you’re welcome to bring kids and lawn chairs and hang out outside of the beer garden, too.

We can’t wait for the greatest weekend of the summer, and we hope you’ll join us!

Photo credit: Jenn Hethcoat

Island Retreat

Sandbar tropical drinks | www.thesandbar.com

Do you need an escape from the daily grind? Longing for a relaxing getaway to an island oasis, with your toes in the sand and a tropical drink in your hand?

Well, we can’t change your latitude, but we can sure change your attitude!

Sign up your office, business or organization for our new Island Retreat tropical happy hour, available on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Gather at least five (or more!) employees, business partners or clients and treat them to a fun-filled two hours at the Sandbar. Your group will receive:

  • Exclusive drink specials for two hours
  • Free appetizers from Sandbar Subs
  • Free T-shirt giveaway
  • Free hurricane show with a mermaid of your choice
  • Fun toys, great music and more!

Email Andrew at andrew@thesandbar.com today to schedule your Island Retreat, and #LetsGetTropical!

Please share this information with any businesses or organizations that you think need a fun and refreshing happy hour!

Save the drive-in movie theaters!

If you’re like some of us– and I’m talking about some of us who have been around the Sandbar longer than, say, some of our more recently-hired staff members– you have fond memories of drive-in movie theaters from when you were a kid.

Did you know that they’re in danger of disappearing? Since the film industry has gone digital, many theaters can’t afford the $80,000 price tag that the digital upgrade costs.

Honda, the car company, has stepped in to help– they’re going to donate five projectors and the public vote decides which drive in gets them.

Our local Jack Ellena Honda dealership is hosting an event next Friday, Sept. 13, that celebrates this event with fun for the whole family: a pop-up drive-in movie theater.

They’ll host a free screening of “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” at 7 p.m. out at their dealership.

Click here for more details.

What does this have to do with us, and why are we talking about it? Well, we like movies…after all, our founder Peach does own a movie theater down the road in Ottawa.

And, Sandbar Subs is stepping up to help save the drive-ins. They’ll be serving Sandbar Subs beach dogs, chips and cookies at the event. Dogs and cookies are $2; chips are $1. Proceeds will benefit the cause!

If you’d like to help save the Midway Drive-in in Osawatomie, you can text VOTE86 to 444999, click here to make a donation or show up at next Friday’s event.

Help us spread the word, will you? Drive-in theaters are an iconic part of our history and an experience that everyone should get to enjoy as they grow up.

RSVP for the event on Facebook and share it with your friends!

Mrs. Mass checks out Sandbar Subs

Our new neighbor across the street, the Sandbar Subs World Headquarters, has been open for almost a month now and business seems to be brisk.

If you haven’t stopped by to check it out, you should– it’s not just a sandwich shop (although the sandwiches and wraps are delicious!) but also a place you can stop and get a fountain drink, a cell phone charger or a bottle of Advil.

Remember Round Corner? For you newbies, it was a drugstore on the corner of 8th and Mass, where Italian restaurant Intorno now sits. Round Corner was an old-fashioned drugstore that also housed the Cheese Shoppe, one of Dave’s favorite former restaurants downtown.

Well, personally, the new Sandbar Subs reminds me of a cross between the two. Think convenience store plus quick, quality food.

We aren’t the only ones who think so. Our Twitter friend Mrs. Mass recently paid a visit across the street and wrote about her experience for the Lawrence Journal-World.

Favorite quote:

“Did I say this sub shop is going to do wonders for downtown? … This sub shop is going to do wonders for downtown.”

You can read the full article here. Apologies in advance if you have to answer weird Google survey questions in order to read the story– we promise it’s worth it!