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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBusiness_DixieChickenThe Dixie Chicken brand had many variations over the years, but music and cold drinks remained its staple. Courtesy of the Ganter family and Cushing Memorial Library and Archives THE DIXIE CHICKEN Don Ganter and The Dixie Chicken Ask adult Aggie fans to name their favorite spots in College Station and many will reply, “The Dixie Chicken.” The Dixie Chicken - or simply, The Chicken - has been an iconic Northgate destination over the course of 40 years. The Chicken opened June 15, 1974, as a partnership between Donnie Anz and Don Ganter, who wanted to create a rustic setting where people could share cold drinks, laughter, dominoes and music. Its popularity was immediate. Anz and Ganter later opened a mixed-drink bar next door, called Farkleberry’s, which soon became a live-music club called Miranda’s. By the 1980s, Miranda’s closed to allow The Dixie Chicken to double in size. Thanks to a larger facility and a growing legion of fans, state alcoholic beverage records confirmed for many years that more beer was sold per square foot at The Dixie Chicken than anywhere else in the United States. The larger facility also allowed Ganter to display his pet rattlesnakes. While a cheerleader at St. Mary’s University - Home of the Rattlers - Ganter began catching rattlesnakes and allowing them to slither across gym floors during halftime of basketball games. The snakes - some live, some stuffed - became mainstays at The Chicken, and it remains that way today. The Dixie Chicken is arguably the second most-famous destination in College Station, behind Texas A&M University itself, but Ganter left a business legacy throughout College Station and Bryan prior to his death in 2004: Eastgate, College Station Texas Moon Tavern (later known as Alfred T. Hornback’s); Northgate, College Station Farkleberry’s (later known as Miranda’s), Sticky Chin’s Ice Cream (later known as Dry Bean Saloon), Shadow Canyon, Satchel’s BBQ & Steaks; South College Avenue, Bryan Chicken Oil Company Ganter’s daughters, Jennifer and Katy, continue their father’s vision by operating restaurants, bars and venues that entertain multiple generations of Aggies and new visitors to the community.