Fort Smith bars and restaurants welcome back Razorback fans
About an hour before kickoff, Kathy Post wore a cardinal red shirt with white letters spelling out "Arkansas Razorbacks." She sat in her favorite spot with Hubert Post, a place where they always sit in Fort Smith when Razorback games are on.
At Hero's Bar on Garrison Avenue, the Posts had their predictions to go with their rituals. Some downtown spots were beginning to fill up with fans in Arkansas shirts and hats for the 2:30 p.m. kickoff as the Posts talked about the upcoming game. But on a beautiful day, with temperatures in the low 80s, there were plenty who were expected to head to area lakes also.
In Hero's, the Posts were ready to watch a big season begin.
Hubert Post gave his plan for the afternoon, "Hang out and watch the Hogs win! The first game of the national championship season hopefully."
They were prepared for a close game Saturday with Cincinatti.
"I'm thinkin' it's gonna be a tough battle on both sides of the ball, but we're gonna come out on top, that's what I'm thinkin'," Hubert Post said.
Kathy Post gave her prediction.
"I think we're gonna have a good time no matter what," Kathy Post said. Her friend Loretta Brown walked up to join the couple. Brown and Kathy Post showed their matching tattoos of the state of Arkansas with a Hog face on it they got on Garrison Avenue.
A few blocks away, other bars and restaurants had fans before kickoff.
On the walls of Papa's Pizzaria is a mounted boar's head. There is a ceramic pig too. The featured pizza this Saturday is The Hogzilla.
It was time to call the Hogs in Fort Smith with Razorback fans, bartenders, cooks, and managers ready in places with TVs airing the seasonal ritual on the gridiron across the city Saturday. Barbecue, beer, and Razorback football return.
Zac Burnett at Hero's Bar has been hearing the talk for months now about how good the 2022 team will be. The 2022 Arkansas Razorbacks are about the have a big season, he hopes.
Hopes are just as high for business coming back Saturday too when the call of the Hogs is heard again.
There will be plenty of cardinal and cream-colored gatherings around TV screens with all eyes on the Hogs.
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Papa's Pub and Pizzaria,
508 Garrison Ave
The downtown Entertainment District in Fort Smith will be full of those in Razorback red. Inside Papa's Pub is a Razorback tapestry behind glass on the wall. It has the University of Arkansas decals dating back to the 1940s, and the 1964 artwork with the Razorback that was on football helmets with a bit of a humpback. The slimmer, meaner one came next and remains to date on helmets.
Papa's General Manager Tim McNally said the pizza called The Hogzilla is about to be in top demand.
"It will be big time here at Papa's Pub & Pizzaria," McNally said. There will be beer specials and the pizza with extra cheese. Also wings can be ordered.
"It's gonna be fantastic," McNally said. "We just do those pizzas exclusively during the Hogs games."
He predicted the game would end 21-14 in favor of Arkansas.
The Hogzilla has pulled pork, bacon, all kinds of pig meat on this pizza. The Hogzilla also has beef from Neumeier's Rib Room, 424 Garrison. McNally said deliveries of Hogzillas will pick up with more people ordering more food and more deliveries to those watching the game at home.
"Delivery has really gone well for us," McNally said. To those who want to cheer with the crowd, he said, "Come by and cheer those Hogs on, and we will see you Saturday."
Other pizzas on the menu include the Goob's Special, a pepperoni pizza, Meat Lovers with sausage, beef, pepperoni, and Canadian bacon. There is the Vegetarian with mushrooms, black olives, purple onions and bell peppers.
Hero's Bar
1002 Garrison Ave.
Watching the game with friends and fans makes it worth it, say those who frequent Hero's on gameday. A faithful crowd showed up through the winter and spring months for the basketball Hogs run and through the summer months for the Hogs baseball team's run in the College World Series. Expect more Hog callers to fill Hero's. For games at night when there is a band, the sound on the TV will be turned down, but it will be a full blast during an afternoon college football Saturday.
Hero's, 1002 Garrison Ave., is the lucky spot to watch for many fans in Fort Smith and bartender Zac Burnett. Even through a pandemic, when the Hogs are on TV, the fans are in the seats and at the bar, throwing up a woo pig sooie! chant or two or three.
"It'll be a tradition here until this place closes," Burnett said.
Saturdays in Fort Smith are for Razorbacks on the TV and on the radio. And plenty of food goes to tailgate parties from Garrison Avenue to Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Burnett says the fans love Coach Sam Pittman in Arkansas. There are a lot of homers at Hero's too, loyal ones.
"They're super excited this year and talking about it every day," Burnett said. And they like to watch their Hogs with friends, he said.
That's the appeal of the sports bar. Burnett says he expects a big enough crowd Saturday to call a victory.
"Arkansas Cincinnati should be a great game," Burnett said. There may not be as many people leave for the lake before the game this year, he said.
Kickoff is 2:30 p.m.
Walk-On's Bistreaux & Bar.
4306 Phoenix Ave.
Head here for The Woo Pig special drink.
There are three Walk-On's Bistreaux & Bar locations in Arkansas, Conway, Rogers and Fort Smith and a fourth to be built soon in Fayetteville.
Oscar Ramirez, manager of the Fort Smith location, said families are welcome where it is mostly non-smoking, with one patio area outside designated for smokers.
"I think we are more of a family sports bar, so people can bring their families," Ramirez.
There are 72 TVs at Walk-On's in Fort Smith. A good bet is that most screens will show Razorback Stadium too Saturday afternoon for about four hours.
"We're expecting Saturday to get really, really busy especially with the people coming in on Saturdays," Ramirez said.
He said last season crowds crew as the Hogs seemed to improve, especially after that win against Texas in Fayetteville last year.
"I'm hoping we really build off of what we had last year," Ramirez said.
A couple hundred people are expected, he said.
On gamedays the special is called The Woo Pig, a drink with a mixture of spirits and juice. The menu features burgers, salads, wraps, pasta, a little bit of everything. The double bacon burger is a popular and the Louisiana combo a crawfish etouffee.
Ramirez said he thinks the Hogs will continue to build on their foundation.
"They had a really good run last season," Ramirez said.
Hooters
6132 Rogers Ave., Fort Smith.
The TVs at Hooters with Arkansas playing will have the sound up. And there will be a few showing the Oklahoma Sooners who also kickoff at 2:30 p.m., with the sound down, said Nichole Denton, manager in Fort Smith. Denton is from Tulsa, but she is looking to get behind the Hogs a little more this season, maybe.
She promises Hogs fans will hear the sound of the Arkansas game Saturday at Hooters. But Fort Smith is just too close to Oklahoma not to expect some Boomer Sooner rooters , although their game against UTEP may not be as good of a game Saturday as the Razorbacks and top-25 ranked Cincinnati Bearcats.
"We're very much looking forward to this Saturday," Denton said. "We have both Arkansas and OU's first non-conference games. Both start at 2:30 p.m. We will have the sound on the Arkansas game and probably split the TVs depending on the customers who are here watching it."
Denton said the crowd can be split, half OU and half Hogs on some Saturdays. She has employees who also live in Oklahoma. Of course, they are working on UA soil.
"Arkansas will always trump Oklahoma whenever it comes to our TVs every single time," Denton said. "I do see a very, very good turnout."
Some specials are ahead for tailgating parties.
"We're pretty much expecting a pretty good turnout with both teams playing at the same time, that alone is going to get us a turnout," Denton said. "But with Arkansas playing in general, every time Arkansas plays our restaurant gets full and we are very much excited for football season this year. We know it is going to be a great season."
Chicken strips, Hooters original style wings, snow crab legs, shrimp tacos, burgers, and a kids' menu awaits. Not only will deliveries pick up during a gameday, but more people order more food and drink.
Neumeier's Rib Room & Beer Garden.
424 Garrison Ave.
The Arkansas state barbecue championship went to Neumeier's in 1994 with a first place finish in the pork rib category, the downtown Fort Smith restaurant with the outdoor beer garden.
Known for live music on the outdoor stage. The game will be on TV for fans inside. And the Rib Room caters.
A family pack special is $27.99 which includes a pound of meat, four buns, and two sides. It is chopped and sliced pork, smoked bologna, pulled chicken, sliced brisket, polish sausage, and spicy smoked sausage. A Hog Call early and often may be on the menu too.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Where to watch the Hogs in bars and restaurants in Fort Smith
