By Lulu

Sometimes what makes one bar cooler than the next is music, location, ambiance…but what sets Chris’ Lounge apart from most, is history. It has been owned and operated by a family that loves motorcycling and motorcyclist for twenty-eight years. Chris Robino took a one-story building on a corner in Holly Hill and had a vision to put a second story on it and make it a neighborhood bar that was “out of this world” …and she did in 2000! The aliens lurking about the bar remind us of just that. Chris’ daughter Gina has taken the reins of her mother’s business and is keeping to her mom’s recipe for a great bar…great prices year-round, good drinks, ice cold beer, fun staff and treating everyone that comes in the door like family.

Upstairs there are pool tables that host their pool leagues and darts for those who enjoy dart leagues. Downstairs an almost always packed bar full of regulars in all sorts of conversations enjoying their ice-cold beers or stiff drinks poured by some of the greatest bartenders around! Chris’ Lounge is a favorite of those on two wheels, NASCAR fans and locals. The bar is open 7am to 2am 365 days a year and parties on days like Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years are just an ongoing tradition there. But frankly it is always a party at Chris’.

In 1998 a truck ran right into the front of the building taking out the front wall. It happened right before happy hour luckily and no one was hurt, amazingly they just boarded up the bar and business continued as usual right through the Christmas holidays. Nothing keeps the doors from opening at Chris’ Lounge!

The story of the military man holding a rifle and a flag was one that I was interested in learning. Debbie a bartender at Chris’ for 26 years says that they have always had many vets frequent the bar on a regular basis, so when Chris saw the statue at a retail establishment down the street, she had to have it as a tribute for veterans and our military. Debbie says people come in thinking it is an Army/Navy store but walking in the front door and finding a bar…often just made them “regulars” from that day on. The statue has been vandalized and in fact this is the second one.

Gina Robino does ride her Fat Boy when she can slip away. Her mom in her younger years had a BSA. So, the fruit didn’t fall far from the tree in the Robino family. Gina and her staff are happy to host poker runs and are involved in lots of local charity events. They even do bake sales for local veteran charities.

So, whether you are in town for the races, Bike Week or a local who hasn’t found Chris’ Lounge, stop in at 1301 Ridgewood Ave. in Holly Hill and find out why the regulars “Love this bar” just like the Toby Keith song. The bartenders are Debbie, Gina, Kelly, Tina, Donna, Ashley, Valerie, Kimmi, Teresa, Rockin’ Rhonda and Colin. Each and every one of them will be happy to make you happy anytime of the day…it’s happy hour all day at Chris’!