Black Market
The Long Run and Sudden End of My Favorite Dive
by Ty Wright
Photos: Black Market
The Black Market was my favorite bar. It was my home bar. Whenever I was far from El Paso, I ached for the friendly familiarity that was my very own Cheers—where everybody knew each other’s names—and if you went there a lot, you really got used to that lovely sewage bouquet.
It was a place where you saw some of the worst bands ever, and some of your favorite bands that you couldn’t believe were playing there. Framed artwork of local artists adorned the walls and was often rotated, as part-owner Austin Allen was an avid collector of local art. The staff included some of the most talented artists and musicians this town has bred—and many of my favorite people.
By now, its legend that while Beck and the gang were enjoying some drinks on a night off during a Southwest tour, they spontaneously set up and played to a capacity room, as word spread like wildfire until people were watching through the windows. He’s been back more times than anyone can count since.
Through its long run, Black Market has played host to so many forgotten nights. Bore witness to drunken romance-blossoms and angry break-ups, watched as one night stands resulted in possible unwanted pregnancies. Some of the best and worst decisions were made, probably more of the worst.
During the week, it was a regular’s bar, frequented by El Paso’s preeminent artists and musicians. It was a place where $2 Jäger and Rumpleminz were always on the menu, and for a short while, there was a popular concoction known as the “Joose Bomb”—that tasty malt beverage with shot of gin dropped in, because, you know, gin-n-juice. I’m really glad that went away; it was dangerous.
It was my favorite bar to play, ever. We had to bring our own P.A., there was no stage (which I love, because it meant we were face to face with the audience) and the room couldn’t accommodate more than a couple hundred. I will miss it dearly.
The Black Market closed it’s doors for good on December 31st, 2014, with a bacchanal of $25 Drink-n-Drown in a successful push to empty the building of all the booze. With a line out the door, and elbow room non-existent, it was total chaos- nearly impossible to get a drink, and the women’s bathroom line just wasn’t worth it, or so I was told.
Following a year-long battle with City Council, co-owners Austin Allen and Will Tanner lost out to convenience market juggernaut CVS, and despite best efforts, 111 Robinson will be home to another fucking CVS.
Pre-Black Market, Will Tanner operated Moontime Pizza; some will remember as a restaurant-venue with local and national bands and tasty pizza. It was the place to go if you weren’t 21 yet, but wanted to socialize and watch your friend’s band play Sublime covers.
Following a brief stint as a wine bar, the Black Market opened its doors with co-owners Will Tanner and Austin Allen. Allen has also been responsible for the Lowbrow Palace, Palomino Tavern and the ill-fated Star City (I mean, come on. Did you even try their mac-cheese?) making Robinson Avenue a ‘Bermuda Triangle’ for El Paso’s hippest drinkers. Allen has recently opened Mother of Pearl vinyl, a sorely needed record shop on the Westside, and will continue to own and operate the Palomino Tavern. Lowbrow Palace has recently been bought by Splendid Sun, the production team that brought you Neon Desert.
In fact, in the late 80s and early 90s, my mom and my aunt ran a new and used clothing store out 111 Robinson called Rock Bottoms. I can remember playing in cardboard boxes as a toddler in the exact same spot I embarrassed myself twenty years later when I danced overzealously with Deerhunter and grabbed the mic because I thought people wanted to hear a drunken guy ramble. The polite road manager let me know I should just enjoy the show, but stop bothering the band.
I invited regulars, staff and artists to share their thoughts/favorite stories/worst stories/eulogies on the matter.
Black Market Stories
I can comfortably say my life changed at Black Market, or at least it was the setting for a new chapter. The dive bar was already my usual spot for the year and a half I had been back living in El Paso. As a photographer, it was typical to be armed with a camera at all times. My newest camera at the time was the first to offer amazing HD video capabilities (which I had no experience with), but I was experimenting with regularly.
One night I stopped by Black Market, alone, with only my camera in hand. Luckily, the place was jam-packed with the who’s who of El Paso’s underground music and art scene. Even though I only knew a couple people in the place, it didn’t’t stop me from turning on my camera and recording candid moments, interactions between strangers and the energy that was thriving within this scene.
When I chopped up the footage and added it to my home video edits I had been uploading on Facebook, things changed. I received plenty of new friend requests and kudos for my camera work. This new, young, scene was so ambitious and creative, and somehow that video was enough for a lot of them to reach out and embrace me as an ally. From then on, I was asked to film shows and events, performances, interviews, music videos and even host a web series. Now, a few years later, I find myself working with some of my favorite local businesses, shooting music videos for amazing musicians, and even getting commissioned by major politicians. I’m really lucky to be a self-employed, creative professional, based in El Paso, and I know that one night at Black Market helped get me here.
-Andrew Perez- photographer/videographer, really cool guy.
Haha, there was the time that Matthew Poe and I got a scratch off ticket in our tip jar and saw that we had won over 100,000 as we were getting ready to celebrate and break out a bottle of the best whiskey we could afford with our new fortune, I flipped the ticket over and read the fine print only to realize it was all some sort of sick joke—damn those fake lottery tickets!
-Cesar Muñiz- BM bartender, a DJ, my bandmate in The D.A.
Early last year, I ventured out to Black Market with my then new girlfriend to meet some friends. It had been a somewhat trying day, as I had attended a friend’s funeral and memorial service just before. With a few shots of bourbon fueling the trek to the bar, needless to say, I was already sauced upon my arrival.
Our group approached the bar to be greeted by Eddie [Cruz, former manager] and the Market crew. Shots followed hugs, which followed beers which led to more shots with out-of-town friends, who happened to be there. I went outside for a smoke, which I have since quit, and it was at that point my memories start to blur. I woke up hours later on the sidewalk in front of the nearby Chubby’s Deli with my head resting on the uncomfortable pillow of asphalt. My phone had twenty-six missed calls and dozens of messages from the group I had abandoned hours before. They had spent the remainder of the night searching for me, finally giving up around 5 A.M. I was met with equal parts relief and frustration when I finally called everyone to let them know I was ok.
-Javy Caballero—musician and band member of Gila Monster and Sound on Sound.
It was 3 or maybe 4 years ago that an after-SXSW showcase was booked to play at Lowbrow and Black Market; it was called So Sick Fest. Shows went back and forth between the 2 venues—as soon as one show ended at Lowbrow, people ran across the street to Black Market for the other band to play. It was indeed, So Sick. Anyways, one general rule everybody knew about Black Market was no moshing, no circle pits, no aggressive pushing or shoving. The stage was set for Nü Sensae to start playing and everybody is at the front stage getting squished. As soon as the first song started, I could feel this powerful force of people just going fucking nuts all over the place. I remember looking to my left where the main entrance was, knowing that the bouncer may or may not say something about all of this, which he did. He got up from his stool, walked through all of us, stood on the side of the stage next to the speakers and yelled “NO MOSHING, NO MOSHIAHHH!!” Before you know it, the bouncer got eaten by the crowd of people that were dancing all around— he literally disappeared from the side of the stage, and a few moments later, I saw him standing in some other part of the bar, and eventually they let it go and let the people mosh away. That night belonged to the pogo dancers, the crowd surfers and the small stage divers. It was so fun, such good memories seeing tons of great bands playing there. I will miss you, Black Market.
-“Pato” Delfín- rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of Nalgadas.
