Bar News
Deep Ellum bar closes down milkshakes to make way for pinball
Deep Ellum bar The Pharmacy, the bar known for spiked milkshakes, has closed, to be replaced by an arcade with the clever name Select Start.
Select Start will feature an expanded selection of arcade games, floats, ice cream, and a higher-end cocktail and beer program.
According to Danny Wilson, one of the owners, the closure was prompted after they received notice from the Texas State Board of Pharmacy that the name "The Pharmacy" was in violation of the Texas Pharmacy Act.
The name "pharmacy" or "apothecary" cannot be used by any business except those that are registered pharmacies with the state.
The owners will seek a new location for The Pharmacy, and a new name, obviously, that's better equipped to make milkshakes.
Select Start, will initially open with 18-20 arcade games, with more to be added later.
They will feature a mix of new-school and old-school games, with titles such as Marvel vs. Capcom, 4-Player Pac Man, Guitar Hero, & Crossy Road. Several pinball machines, skee ball, and basketball are also in the mix.
A 75-inch TV hanging over the bar will be playing live Twitch.tv streams of games. Two 55-inch TVs will also be mounted behind the bar with Xbox One and Playstation 4 consoles preloaded with several popular games.
The bar will offer a menu of gamer-themed cocktails and shots. Soda and beer floats will still be available, along with a selection of snacks and ice cream scoops.
"Nobody thought to check for obscure laws about pharmacies, unfortunately," Wilson says. "We didn’t know it would be an issue."