I long for the times when a person could expect to have a good time in a bar or club and for the variety of activities such a place could afford. I long for the good parking. I long for the location.
Not long ago, I did not have to long for such a place because Rockin’ Rodeo used to host all the great amenities that a bar/club should have.
However, the place was shut down due to some red tape, soon after gun-totting idiots shot somebody in front of the place.
I feel sorry for those who had yet to experience the variety and convenience that Rockin’ Rodeo had to offer.
First of all, Rockin’ Rodeo was not located downtown where motels/hotels are lacking existence. It was located on Rosedale Hwy, where the 99 meets 178 (23rd and 24th streets), thereby putting its location in the middle of high-end to low-end motels/hotels, depending on income. Its location helped to keep drunken pedestrians out of their vehicles and into a bed where they can regain their composure.
I’m not saying that there is no other bar located near a hotel, I just have yet to find one that also offers the variety that Rockin’ Rodeo once did.
There is a reason why Rockin’ Rodeo is named so.
Upon entering, people could choose which kind of music and atmosphere they wanted to experience: a packed club filled with a younger crowd, strutting their stuff on the bottom and top dance floors, or a more unpacked bar filled with an older crowd, strutting their stuff by line dancing.
On the left side was rock and hip-hop and on the right side was country. The far-side room contained karaoke while a mechanical bull was in motion just outside of the room. Pool tables could be found near the entrance, across from where food was served. Smokers didn’t need to have their hands stamped or ID ready to have a smoke as a designated area outside the back had plenty of room to accommodate them as well as the waitresses who were ready to serve them.
Rockin’ Rodeo did not have one bar, but it had four bars to accommodate the customers. It not only had bars, it had pleasing waitresses wandering around to accommodate the customers. It did not have street parking, but a parking lot to accommodate customers.
With the variety came convenience.
This is not to knock all the other bars out there that are known for their cultural celebrations and their more close-knit family-like atmosphere, an atmosphere which Rockin’ Rodeo did not have because of its size, but I think Bakersfield citizens could use another place like Rockin’ Rodeo.