Route 66 streams into Elk City from the east like a long stretch of river cutting across land, bending south before turning again to the west. Between those two curves on the east side of North Van Buren sits a brick building with a fresh coat of paint.
Located at 514 North Van Buren, The Thirsty Frog Bar and Grill plans to open for its inaugural run this weekend.
In December, Owner Cade Harris bought the building, which has long housed taverns frequented by Elk City’s working class,.
That’s exactly what Harris, a full-time attorney, is shooting for.
“I waited tables the four years I was in college and then did some bartending when I was in law school. If I was asked what my favorite job ever was, it would be waiting tables. I loved working with the public in that way. You can tell if it is someone’s first date versus their tenth anniversary. Sometimes, you may even see a couple in a fight. But you get a lot of friends sitting down for meals. Then, of course, I have always loved sports, so having a sports bar feels natural for me,” Harris explained.
When the Van Buren property became available for purchase in December, he saw the opportunity for that vision to come to life.
The name — Thirsty Frog — derives from Harris’s time playing collegiate baseball for Texas Christian University.
“But I don’t want to be pigeonholed as a TCU bar,” Harris laughed. “We have memorabilia for OU and OSU, too. Of course, it is a nod to my time as a Frog and being a Frogs fan. But I have asked some of our local legends, like Keitha Dickerson and Taylor Varnell, to bring some things down. We would like to see a lot of that.” Along with five 75-inch televisions mounted on the walls, Harris has even made a spot for the high school football picture of his father, Art.
“He is represented there,” Harris said.
The Thirsty Frog will serve bottled beer and mixed drinks for now. In the future, he plans to add foods known as bar snacks. Jumping through the bureaucratic hoops of opening a food and beverage establishment has created headaches. Still, Harris is quick to credit his legal assistant, Angela Wills, for making it all possible.
“I definitely want to give a shoutout to Angela,” he said. “She is raising seven kids, so she is busy just in that. She still manages to work as the best legal assistant you could ask for. She manages my rent houses and has gone above and beyond here. She is the most amazing woman I have ever met. She will be there to assist along with my three favorite bartenders.”
Business hours will be 4 pm. to close on weekdays and 11 am. to close on weekends.
