BOONDOGGLES PUB to Celebrate 25 YEARS with Customer Appreciation Event Featuring

Food, Live Music, and More

Boondoggles Pub, the locally owned and operated gathering spot nown for good times, freshly poured draft beers and award-winning wood-fired pizza, will commemorate its 25th year in the Clear Lake area in July 2023. Slated for the weekend of Friday, July 14 through Sunday, July 16, 2023, the 25th anniversary celebration and customer appreciation event will include a BBQ cookout, prizes and giveaways, and live music by the Dave Kelldorf Trio (Friday), the Blaggards (Saturday) and Dirty Bay Jazz (Sunday). The event is open to the public.

A trip by owner John Devereux to a far-off destination led to the creation of Boondoggles. While traveling in Australia with his son, Colby, Devereux dined at a pub in Brisbane that specialized in gourmet pizzas. It was so popular that reservations were required days in advance. Devereux recognized the need for such an establishment in the Clear Lake area.

Originally a boat engine repair shop, Boondoggles’ building was meticulously transformed, guided by Devereux’s vision, his quest for architectural preservation and a strict budget. Over the course of an entire year, he personally collected and stored salvageable items from demolition projects around the local area, other parts of the country, and as far away as England. All of the structure’s steel came from the demolished Nassau Bay Sakowitz Center. Wooden beams and flooring were reclaimed, as were the air-conditioning units. Additional recycled treasures included old warehouse bricks from Chicago, doors from an old school in Lake Charles, Louisiana, church windows from West Virginia, and a clock from London’s Victoria Station. Challenging and rewarding, the preservation effort brought forth an environmentally green structure with historic character and a charming Old-World feel. Boondoggles quickly became a source of local pride, introducing the area to a superb beer delivery system of nearly 50 taps and a secret dough recipe that earned accolades for pizza baked in the pub’s brick wood-fired oven, where oak and mesquite produce temperatures of over 500 degrees. The now famous “Mug Club” was introduced at the main bar. Patrons purchase solid pewter tankards, which are stored on hooks hanging from the ceiling, and fill them with their beverage of choice. The tankards hold several ounces more than a traditional pint and are engraved with any name a patron chooses—from NASA missions to pet dogs. Today, the Mug Club includes over 1,700 members.

A steadfast community and customer focus has earned the pub a loyal following of locals and visitors alike. Out-of-this-world patrons include William “Shep” Shepard, commander of the first crew of the International Space Station (ISS). Flags and other items Shep took into space are prominently on display near the hostess stand. Astronaut Scott Kelly, who spent a record-breaking year in space aboard the ISS, chronicled his experiences and referenced Boondoggles in his book, Endurance. The U.S. record holder for the most days in space and first female, non-military Chief of the Astronaut Office, Peggy Whitson, is also a Boondoggles regular. On any given day, it’s not unusual to find astronauts, NASA test pilots, space engineers, sailors and boaters, college students, soccer players, dart enthusiasts, families, kids and little ones in strollers all enjoying a good time and interacting with friendly staff members—many of whom have been at Boondoggles since the beginning.

Four-legged patrons are also a familiar site on the patio. Inspiring a dog-friendly atmosphere, Devereux’s boxer served as the pub’s original mascot and was immortalized in the Boondoggles logo. Each spring, Boondoggles sponsors the annual Woofstock event, a dog festival and fundraiser for Bay Area Pet Adoptions, generating more than $10,000 for the shelter each year.

Boondoggles has always believed in giving back to the community. And when the community is shaken, the pub steps in. For several weeks amid the destruction and despair from Hurricanes Ike and Harvey, Boondoggles—without electricity to fuel its kitchen operation— fed local residents and work crews from its patio.

In May 2023, Boondoogles opened its new Out-Back addition. Featuring a spacious bar and impressive whiskey wall with a library ladder, generous tabletop seating, big-screen televisions for watching live sports, and an adjacent patio, the Out-Back accommodates up to 100 patrons and offers full-service Thursdays through Saturdays for ages 21 and up. The Out-Back is also available for special events and can be reserved for groups of 20-100 people.

“Since we opened our doors, Boondoggles simply wanted to provide our customers with a comfortable and welcoming place to enjoy outstanding beer, tasty food and great service in a fun atmosphere,” says General Manager James Venezia. “Twenty-five years later, our goal remains the same. We look forward to serving our community for another 25 years.”

About Boondoggles Pub

Locally owned and operated since 1998, Boondoggles Pub is a neighborhood gathering spot in the city of El Lago on Clear Lake. Boondoggles offers nearly 50 beers on tap, a fully stocked bar and specializes in gourmet pizzas from a wood-burning oven. Additional menu offerings include amazing sandwiches, burgers, salads and featured daily specials. Open seven days a week, Boondoggles serves lunch and dinner daily, weekly seasonal specials and Sunday brunch. The pub is a great place to watch sports and welcomes leashed dogs on the covered outdoor patio. Offering full-service Thursday through Saturday for ages 21 and up, the pub’s recently added Out-Back features a spacious bar with a whiskey-wall backdrop, generous tabletop seating, big-screen televisions and an adjacent patio. In addition to the pub’s upstairs room available for private dining, the Out-Back also accommodates special events for up to 100 people. Boondoggles offers easy waterfront accessibility from Clear Lake, with boat slips on Taylor Bayou.

For more information: www.boondogglespub.com Follow Boondoggles on Facebook.