Two new establishments nearing completion will soon give downtown visitors a choice between country music and a quiet conversation over a pint.

One is an Irish pub to be called Barnett’s, at 420 Franklin Ave., the other a country-themed club called Rattlesnake Junction. Barnett’s, owned by Waco insurance executive Tom Chase, is set to open in early March, with a grand-opening party on St. Patrick’s Day.

Rattlesnake Junction, owned by entrepreneur Raymond Prefume, also will be opening in a few weeks two blocks down the street, at 618 Franklin Ave.

Other businesses are in the works in the area. On Sixth Street just west of Interstate 35, a sign heralds the coming of the Z Bar and Grill in the building that was Basaberu.

The new businesses are a sign that things are looking up for the local economy, as well as downtown, said Chris McGowan, director of urban development for the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce.

“There’s a feeling of, ‘All right, it’s time to go. Let’s get these under way,’ ” McGowan said. “People are feeling more confident.”

Downtown already has made progress with a variety of other bars offering live music, art galleries and restaurants, he said.

Chase’s project is the realization of a longtime dream that he’s had to be a barkeep.

“For 40 years, I’ve been wanting to wipe the counter off and pour,” said Chase, who also is chairman of the downtown public improvement district.

The pub is in a 113-year-old, three-story building owned by Insurers of Texas, of which Chase is CEO. The building once housed the J.S. Barnett Printing Co.

Chase wants to maintain a calm atmosphere where people can discuss current events, do business and get to know each other.

“A quiet conversation rather than loud music, with no smoking,” he said.

Chase will be using 2,300 square feet on the ground floor, with an office and storage space above. He’d like to use the second floor, too, but it would require installing fire sprinklers and making accommodations for the disabled, such as an elevator, which would be expensive.

Although Barnett’s will be a private business, Chase is looking for public opinion on how to run the bar. By going to www.barnettspub.com/friends.html, people can sign up to be on an advisory committee to help decide questions such as what types of beer to sell or what kinds of parties to have.

Out-of-town music

Down the street, workers also are putting the finishing touches on Rattlesnake Junction, which is to have 7,500 square feet of space for live music. He’s leasing the building from Hoppenstein Properties, he said. Prefume said he’d also like to put the upper floors to good use but is deferring for the same reasons Chase is.

Prefume said that while there’s already live music in Waco, it’s mostly local acts, and he wants to draw more bands from Austin and Dallas.

“There are places to listen to live music here, but I think it has room to grow,” Prefume said. Referring to another Central Texas music establishment, he said, “The next Gruene Hall is what I envision.”

He won’t say how much he’s sinking into the project, just that he’s putting his personal finances on the line in hopes of making a successful go of it.

“Most everything is out of my pocket, Prefume said. “I’m sacrificing. I’ve sold my toys — my Jeep and my boat.”

bteeter@wacotrib.com

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