Andrew WallacePhotos by Grant Jones
Bartenders come in all shapes and sizes, and from all walks of life. Who’s to say who is best equipped to give you what you need when you sit down across the bar? Bartenders. Professional babysitters, part-time psychologists, and a drunk’s best friend. When you need to know the best spots to get your drink on around campus and who to chat up while you’re there, we’ve got you.
…Your last name… is Peacock?
Yes. I swear!
What do you do when you’re not bartending?
Well, I’m a boxer. I work at Title Boxing during the day. I like to stay in shape and train there. I’m also in a band. I’m the lead guitarist for The Spotless Minds, which is a blues-rock band. We’re @TheSpotlessMindsMusic on Instagram; you can follow us for release date information. We’re currently recording our first album.
What’s your favorite drink to make?
It’s like a Sex On The Beach, but with tequila. So basically it’s tequila, cranberry juice, orange juice, lime juice, and a dash of triple sec. Pretty damn good!
What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen while bartending?
One night, this guy came in and I knew he was gonna be a problem from the second he walked in – he had that aura on him. He sat down and was bothering the people at the table next to him back in the pool area. Then he got mad because the juke box wasn’t playing his song. Well, there were like ten songs ahead of his, so he tried to reset the jukebox and ended up turning it off. It takes like thirty minutes for it to reconnect, so I’m like, “You can’t do that, you need to leave.” So he takes his tap of PBR and pours it all over the bar counter, makes this huge mess. There was a brawl in the party room one time, but I wasn’t here.
Weren’t you here when that guy broke the window?
Yeah, I was closing that night. I think he waited a long time on a sub or something. I was closing out my drawer and I saw him walking by punching every window, and when he got to the one at the corner he just smashed it.
Grant: Did he run away?
Yeah, by the time I got outside he was gone.
What’s your favorite thing on the menu?
Lasagna bites. Artichoke and spinach bites are really good too. You can’t go wrong with the pizza. I can’t decide which crust I like more. It kinda depends on my mood. If I’m not hungry, I think the Hounddog’s is pretty good; less filling. Obviously though… Smokin’ Joes is… you can’t really beat it.
How long have you worked here?
Over two years. I started in August 2017.
What do you wish you could say to customers that you normally can’t?
It’s a basic virtue, but BE PATIENT. I get if it’s slow, and things are taking forever, that can be annoying. But when things are busy, snapping at me or clapping, that isn’t gonna make me wanna come to you; it’s just gonna irritate me. We’re people too, and we’re just trying to help you. Just be patient with serving staff. I work as fast as I can and try to make sure nobody is waiting too long, but when people are rude it can kinda throw me off.
What makes Hounddog’s the best bar on campus?
Great food, a great happy hour, friendly staff, and it’s been a staple of the campus and Old North area for a long time.
What’s the second best bar?
I have to shout out Gallo’s Tap Room on Bethel Road. They have amazing food, a wide range of beer, and the staff are great to have a conversation with.
