Feb. 5, 2025
Shenanigans Sports Bar & Grill is about to expand its empire of sports memorabilia and questionable beverage choices with a brand-new downtown location. Yes, folks, prepare your taste buds for the thrill of finding pizza and beer in an area that probably didn’t have enough calorie-drenched options before.
This hot spot of grilled goodness is taking over The Cascade at Falls Park, nestled at 701 N. Phillips Ave., right where the former Papa Woody’s Wood Fired Pizza stood before packing up and waving a white flag—also known as “business closure.”
Meanwhile, on the other side of town, the original Shenanigans location at 1903 S. Ellis Road recently had a makeover, courtesy of its new owner, Paul Ode. You might know him from such culinary hits as “Crawford’s” and “Wagoo Burger,” both of which sound like they could double as trendy Instagram filters.
“For us, there’s no traditional sports bar downtown, and that’s what we want,” Ode mused, probably while staring at pictures of sad, empty bar stools. “If the Vikings or SDSU are playing, you’ll hear the commentary over the speakers.” In other words, if high-stakes sports and fried food are your jam, congratulations, you’ve found your home!
The forthcoming menu promises all the classics you’d expect—pizza, beer, wings, and burgers—because, let’s face it, trying something new is overrated. But fear not; there might be some unique dishes that will confuse your palate in delightful ways. Maybe a taco burger? Who knows!
Given the abundance of families in the area, Ode has reassured us that despite being a sports bar, they’ll cater to the kids by making sure they have options that don’t involve deep frying everything in sight—though where’s the fun in that? “It might be a sports bar, but a huge part of our business on the west side is families,” he enthusiastically added, sounding eerily like he’s trying to convince himself.
As the space undergoes a makeover, Ode is optimistic, hoping to fling doors open by St. Patrick’s Day. “We’ll do what we can,” he said, perhaps while stifling a laugh at the notion of pouring green beer into the drinks of unsuspecting revelers. Add in the fact that they want to drive more business to the building, and what you have is a recipe for both community bonding and the inevitable “beer belly.”
Interestingly enough, The Cascade now has three empty spaces, one of which will soon host the crafty “Maker’s Circle,” where you can practice the fine art of crafting items you never knew you needed. This combined with local eateries promises a renaissance of foot traffic, according to Raquel Blount of Lloyd Cos., who is probably fantasizing about her busy weekends already.
“Spring is coming, and with the park’s opening at Jacobson Plaza, along with the buzzing food scene in The Steel District, this area is set to be the entertainment hub no one saw coming,” she said, undoubtedly channeling her best fortune-teller vibes. So grab your stretchy pants, folks; downtown is getting a makeover too, one beer at a time.
