Community Corner
Rockin' Horse Saloon A Great Place For Urban Cowboys
The new saloon has booked its first country/western wedding, a mechanical bull riding contest and now is the rumor of an urban legend.
It’s been a teen club, a 50’s club, empty for awhile and something out of the 1980’s.
Elvis has left the building. The club on 159th and Laramie now is home to Rockin’ Horse Saloon, a full blown cowboy place.
“You don’t have to wear cowboy boots and a hat,” said general manager Bob Potokar. The three owners of Rockin’ Horse, former Oak Forest Mayor Jim Malecky, Jamie Marcanio and Matt Konopko brought Potokar in, as he has 19 years of bar management experience.
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“Country music is where it’s at right now,” says Potokar. “ I don’t think anyone in the area is doing this. We are country every day.”
In the last few months, there already has been an engagement, a country & western wedding booked and now an urban legend about the place has kicked up.
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“One of the customers has told me the owner of the Black Knight had a knight of armor at the front door. When he closed, he put it in a casket and buried it outside the front door,” said Potokar. “We’re thinking about digging it up on Halloween, everyone wants to know if it’s there.”
The bar features special saloon drinks, along with some typical bar food such as burgers, wings and sandwiches. Whiskey bottles have turned into lights and 1890’s barn wood was brought in to complete the cowboy home look.
There is a live country estern band every Saturday night.
“We’re going to begin to do private shows with some national acts,” Potokar said. “Rock Star Rodeo has been our staple. Hoosier Highway came in and gave a great performance. They brought in flairs, smoke, TV’s, it was like being at Allstate Arena watching Toby Keith.”
From local bands to nationally known acts, Rockin’ Horse is planning to work with First Midwest Amphitheatre in ticket giveaways for country and western singers performing this summer at the theater.
“If I could have one artist come and rock this place out, it would be Kenny Chesney,” said Potokar. “I’ve seen him in concert, he’s a great entertainer.”
Urban cowboys get your boots ready, on March 4 and 6, 2015, Rockin’ Horse is bringing in a mechanical bull.
“We’re priding ourselves on the fun factor. We had PBR riders a few weeks ago. They were in the Chicago area doing some bull riding. Here are these guys, true cowboys in their boots spurs and jackets, having a good time at Rockin’ Horse,” adds Potokar. “They came back three nights in a row, that says a lot.”
Besides music, Rockin’ Horse has a full line-up during the week. Mondays and Thursdays are country line dancing which begins at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays are open mic nights, Friday’s are DJ Nights and Sundays are NASCAR Sundays.
Potokar says open mic night is one of his favorites. “Anyone can come in, hook up to our amps and showcase their talents. All they have to do is show up, it doesn’t even have to be country music. It’s a lot of fun watching talent from this area.”
Rockin Horse is located at 5200 W. 159th Street in Oak Forest. The website is www.rockinhorsesaloongrill.com More info at 708-687-4100.
“You should give all music a chance,” said Potokar. “The songs are not all about dogs, trucks and ex-wives. Each country song has a meaning.”
Upcoming shows are:
- Feb. 14: Nick Lynch
- Feb. 21: Rock Star Rodeo
- Feb. 28: Black Cadillac
- March 7: Cowboy Jukebox
- March 14: Hoosier Highway
- March 21: Scott Marek
- March 28: Summer Sun
