Shooter's Steakhouse & Saloon attracts more than steak and burger lovers - it also lures people hungry to learn more about the north-side eatery.
The restaurant and bar at 3115 E. Prince Road, just east of North Country Club Road, occupies a building that has a Moroccan and Mediterranean flair, with archways and multiple domes.
"We have people drop in each week to see what it was, or what it was built to be," said Sarah Work, a bartender at the establishment.
"We have both Tucsonans and tourists stop by to check it out, and then they return later to eat. Our regular customers also like to bring their friends and relatives who are visiting from out of town," Work said.
On Fridays and Saturdays, the chef cooks on a mesquite grill in the patio garden.
Owner Marcy Smith took a break from her work at the restaurant recently to share the history of the building and property.
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In the 1800s, the property was part of a ranch that offered service to a stagecoach stop. The stagecoaches connected settlements in the Old Pueblo.
Fast-forward to the building that houses Shooter's: It was built in 1972 as a Moroccan restaurant, El Jebala, that featured a belly-dancing club.
Smith recalled people paying a cover charge to sit around the floor under the dome to watch the belly dancers perform.
El Jebala eventually closed, and a new restaurant, Illusions, moved in. Diners there were treated to magic shows, Smith said.
In the mid- to late 1980s, Rick Porter bought the restaurant, and it became Porter's House, which served all-American fare. The wait staff would entertain the crowd with songs and skits and offered karaoke-like entertainment. The restaurant had a five-year run, Smith said.
In 1992, Smith bought the building from Porter and opened Shooter's bar and restaurant, which brings in customers seven days a week.
After 20 years in business, Smith and her staff still enjoy the newcomers who come in to check out the building, learn its history, then stay to enjoy a steak in the rustic atmosphere.
Got an oddity?
Is there something you've noticed while driving through Tucson that has piqued your curiosity? Or is there some piece of Old Pueblo history you've wondered about? Drop us a line, and we'll look into it.
Contact the Star newsroom at oddity@azstarnet.com or 807-7776.
Contact reporter Carmen Duarte at 573-4104 or cduarte@azstarnet.com
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