Get Your Beer And Wings At Bleachers

Beer and chicken wings. The perfect marriage.

So after operating a restaurant for five years that primarily served chicken wings before relocating to a new location with an adjacent, empty building – well, it was only a matter of time before that vacant space became a bar.

“Wings and beer go well together,” owner Larry Schneeberger said.

The new place opened as B-town Burgers & BBQ about three years ago. In August, Bleachers Sport Bar & Grill opened next door. An opening connects the two. The restaurant/bar is located at 5606 14^th Street West in a small strip mall, and very well might have the longest name in town.

, as it's now called, actually began as Wing Company about eight years ago. It was originally located behind Dairy Queen, 5217 14^th St. W., before Schneeberger moved it to its current location and reopened it as B-town Burgers & Grill.

Burgers and barbeque may be part of the name, but wings are its specialty. B-town serves traditional wings and boneless, with flavors ranging from mild to atomic hot and Thai peanut to honey barbeque.

B-town serves plenty of other items, too: burgers, seafood entrees, salads, a variety of sides and pulled pork and barbeque ribs that are smoked in house for more than 12 hours.

The bar is arranged in a classic sports bar setting with a lengthy bar that seats about 30 with televisions behind the bar, several tables with more strategically arranged televisions, a couple pool tables, darts and video games. In all, the bar has 15 televisions including a humungous, 42-square-foot projection screen on its south wall where patrons gather for the big games.

While the bar prohibits minors after 9 p.m., the restaurant is open for families all night. Don’t be deceived – it is a family restaurant despite being next door to an adult “funshop.” Welcome to a free country.

Smoking is prohibited in the restaurant. But patrons who don’t mind a cigarette while they dine can take their meals to the bar side and smoke away.

The bar offered its patrons a full slate of football games last season with the NFL Sunday Ticket, and Schneeberger said he may order the MLB Extra Innings package for the baseball fans.

He’s also looking into a liquor license. The bar serves wine and a selection of beers including, on tap, Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob Ultra and Genesee Light. Genesee is a Rochester, NY-based beer and Bleachers is the only place in town you’ll find it on tap, Schneeberger said. Bottled selections include all the popular domestics along with Heineken, Corona, Woodchuck, Strongbow and a dozen more.

Get the best prices during daily happy hour from 4-6 p.m. with 2-for-1 drafts for $2 each. Wings are 50 cents and Bud Select and Genesee Light pitchers are $5 all day everyday.

Thursdays are live music nights (Facebook users can “like” Bleachers to keep track of their lineup), Friday and Sundays are karaoke and Saturday is Blind Draw Darts.

IF YOU GO:

B-town Burgers & BBQ and Bleachers Sport Bar & Grill is open 4 p.m. to midnight Monday; closed Tuesday; 11-midnight Wednesday and Thursday; 11-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday and 11-midnight Sunday.

AROUND BRADENTON THIS WEEKEND:

• Live music at , 4307 26^th St. W., from the Dr. Dave Band from 6-10 p.m. Thursday. A classy joint with a large dance floor, comfortable seating, top-notch sound system – and no cover charge!
• Live music at , 4343 Palma Sola Blvd., Thursday night starting with the DT’s from 6-8:30 p.m. followed by Lightnin’ Malcom Band at 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. Malcom’s influences come from the hill country blues made famous by artists like Fred McDowell, R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough. Cover: $8.
• The Hernando DeSoto Historical Society’s annual Seafood Fest returns to downtown Bradenton this weekend with food, beverages and a full slate of live music on three stages along Barcarrota Boulevard and Old Main Street. Click here for the live music lineup. Festival dates/times are 5-10 p.m. Friday, 11-10 p.m. Saturday and noon-7 p.m. Sunday. There is no charge to walk around and listen to the music. Bradenton Patch will have a booth somewhere along Barcarrota Boulevard, so stop by and say hello!
• , 420 301 Blvd. E., possibly the oldest bar in Manatee County, celebrates its 50^th anniversary under the ownership of the Dorics family starting at 1 p.m. Saturday. The late Ted and Linda Dorics bought the Hi-Way Bar in 1961 when they moved to Manatee County from Nebraska. Their son and his wife, Roger and Susie Dorics, are the current owners. The free food, courtesy of Chef Roger and his loyal patrons, comes out at 4 p.m. Enjoy karaoke, toilet seat horseshoes, raffles and other games along with a 3 p.m. performance by none other than Elvis himself (a.k.a. Billy Lindsey). There will be beer a keg or two outside – so bring a lawn chair for outdoor seating. This bar is a landmark in the Oneco community, so don’t miss this historic event!
• Free beer courtesy of at the all-women’s roller derby bout this Saturday night. The hometown Bradentucky Bombers take on the mighty Atlanta Rumble at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at , 3611 3^rd St. W. Click here for ticket information. But get there early! Tailgating starts at 6:30 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. And there’s more free beer during halftime! Afterward, swing by The Distillery, 108 44^th Ave. E., for the post-bout party and have a drink or two with some of the skaters. The Distillery is a major sponsor of the Bombers.