The Roadside Drive Inn which over the yrs has somehow become the Roadside Bar or Susie's as we all know it now has been family owned by Susana and her late husband Paul Blanco for over 60 yrs in Fort Stockton, Tx and has kept it's doors open to the public almost every single day other then a few here and there. As I (Amanda) write this I can see the history of the building and the family bond this
business has built. The public just see's Susie behind the bar as they always have but little do they know just how much involved the family truly is weather it be with repairs to just paperwork or just going in to say hello I have seen the closeness of the Blanco family over the short time I have been working for Susie. The bar just isn't a bar it is history to many of the people who live in Fort Stockton, Tx and yes if you were born and raised here I am pretty sure your mother, father ,grandma, and grandpa have been in to see Susie at least once and I can promise she will remember them. Her late husband Paul Blanco bought the building in Coyanosa, Tx and had it brought over to Fort Stockton, Tx from an army base and the original location is actually where Susie resides now since the bar was moved during the building of HWY 285 S and the corner of Gonzales Loop where it has been for may yrs and will continue to be for many more thanks due of course to the community, travelers, and people staying here for work. When you sit here and enjoy your beer listening to the laughter of the people who have grown up with each other to the new comers who are always welcomed as if they have known them for yrs. I have seen this almost everyday while working. It brings me great joy to see the people that come in and always have a story from yrs back when Paul was still with the family. He made sure he ran a very well respected business and didn't allow trouble to walk through those doors and during the time Susana has taken over she upholds the same standards in running a business and won't have any trouble herself but honestly I do believe the people who come in would never disrespect her they all highly respect her words and decisions and another word is never asked nor said. I never knew that what was supposed to just be a job would turn into so much more I have a family who some will always just see as a customer or a paycheck but when they walk through that door they are all my family and I couldn't be more proud or honored to work for such an amazing woman and her family I thank all of you all for everything but this isn't about me I wanted to share a little of the history of the bar cause it is quiet interesting when you sit in the bar and see the picture of Paul and Susie Blanco from 1962 in the bar together you can actually feel the history and almost look back as almost time has frozen and your in a time capsule that has been preserved perfectly. So the next time you all decide to get out stop in and experience the little gem that everyone knows as Susie's
