WEIMAR’S HANGOUT
OLD FASHIONED GOOD TIME
Weimar Tavern
MASON LAPHAM SHARES WHY THE OLD WATERING HOLE MEANS SO MUCH TO HIM AND ALSO TO WEIMAR BY MICHELLE BANSE STOKES, PHOTOS BY EMILY HENDERSON
The Weimar Tavern is a simple, old-school joint that takes an individual with a love for small-town Texas charm to admire it aesthetically. I guess I’m one of those people. I find a whole lot of character in the hangout’s old bar-back, wooden floors, and old jukebox songs. And although there’s a modern jukebox in place now, the old beerhouse still has the same feel that it did when I walked though those tavern doors for the first time years ago. Looks like some things do indeed stay the same as you remember them. The Weimar Tavern is a welcoming place—so long as you don’t get too out of line. There’s a pool table, locals looking for a domino game, and friendly staff ready to bring you a Lone Star. The current owner, Mason Lapham, has been at the helm for over 17 years with the help of a small, dedicated staff. “We opened in the middle of December 2004,” Mason said.
“I’ve always been kind of doing my own little business stuff and this seemed easy. Plus, I had good people to work with … really good people. One example is Leona Jones who used to own the place. She still works here and has the most longevity at the Tavern. She retired for about five months and then said, ‘To hell with this, I’ve got to do something.’ She still works a few hours throughout the week.” No one can run a bar for long and not have an interesting story or two to tell. Mason was quick to share one of his favorites that says a whole lot about the Weimar community as a whole. “One of the most surprising moments is when we had a mishap with the work schedule,” Mason shared. “Whoever was supposed to show up to work didn’t show up when the place was supposed to open at 3 p.m. Now, back then I had a key outside hidden for whoever needed to service the place
26 | WEIMAR, TEXAS
