Food samples are cut so new employees can learn about and taste the dishes offered at Stool Pigeons. The eatery boasts 20 TVs that will broadcast professional and college football games from across the country. (Michael Holahan/Staff)
Eatery aims to draw sports fans to coop
Stool Pigeons Coop & Grill will open Monday in the space formerly occupied by bd's Stir-Fry Grill, which operated for about seven months in the Augusta Exchange shopping center.
After bd's closed, the building's owners spent eight weeks converting the Mongolian-style stir-fry restaurant into a sports bar and grill.
"It's totally changed," said Mike Parker, Stool Pigeons' general manager, "from the decor to the kitchen to the addition of the game room."
The bd's and Stool Pigeons chains are operated by Bar Fly Management, a company based in Charlotte, N.C.
While the restaurant plans to offer rotating dining and beer specials, the initial big draw for local sports fans will probably be the 20 televisions broadcasting professional and college football games from across the country.
For an area with its share of Bulldogs and Gamecocks buffs, there are only a handful of local restaurants that subscribe to NFL Sunday Ticket or ESPN GamePlan, which allow viewers to see games not included in local cable programming.
There are even fewer restaurants in the area that market themselves as sports bars.
Bob Prescott, the owner of Robbie's Sports Bar, said once basketball and hockey season start local interest in going out to watch professional games seems to wane.
While the Washington Road bar has been open for nearly a decade, Mr. Prescott said began including other offerings beyond just showing games. Nights devoted to karaoke and dancing helped keep customer levels up.
"Augusta won't support a pure sports bar," Mr. Prescott said. "What do you do after football season?"
Chris McNair, the manager of Somewhere in Augusta, said he did not know why more sports bars have opened up in the area, adding that during the past two years his location has managed to be successful in the niche.
He said, "I guess maybe nobody wanted to take a chance."
"Augusta won't support a pure sports bar. What do you do after football season?" - Bob Prescott, owner, Robbie's Sports Bar
IF YOU GO
The Place: Stool Pigeons, 277 Robert C Daniel Jr Pkwy (map)
