After 31 years of music, dancing and entertainment, the lights have dimmed on country music staple The Brandin’ Iron in San Bernardino.
News circulated on social media on Monday, Nov. 27 that the popular local spot for line dancing and live music had officially shut down and concerned patrons began seeking answers as they had just visited the weekend prior.
“I can probably speak for half of the Inland Empire, but we were all very surprised,” Heather Froglear, Country Radio Hall of Famer and Brand Manager at KFRG 95.1/FM said during a recent phone interview. “It’s a huge loss to the country music community because you have to go pretty far towards Los Angeles, Orange County or Temecula to find a big dance bar of this kind.”
Froglear also said that the station has worked extensively for the Brandin’ Iron for well over 30 years, partnering up for food drives, holiday events and intimate K-FROG shows.
“We all have a lot of great memories from our 20’s and early 30’s partying there,” Froglear shared with a laugh. “But more than that, it was a place where long-lasting relationships were made, and it’s sad to think that something so monumental that brought partners, friends and loved ones together is now lost.”
The Brandin’ Iron acted as a safe haven for military personnel stationed in Twentynine Palms whenever they had leave, “so even the military community is hurting over this loss,” she added.
Though there was no official announcement of the closure at first, word quickly spread after a longtime DJ for The Brandin’ Iron, Mark Cutler posted to Facebook, “I’m sorry to report The Brandin’ Iron is officially closed!” on Monday.
The saloon posted on its Facebook page Wednesday morning, officially announcing the closure. The last day of business for The Brandin’ Iron was Saturday, Nov. 25.
Bill Thomas and his wife, Gloria, took over the restaurant and saloon located at 320 South E Street in San Bernardino in 1992, renting the building after a six-year hiatus left it closed in 1987. The Brandin’ Iron originally opened in 1969 after taking over the building from a previous bowling alley, The Citrus Bowl, according to Thomas.
The decision to close the business came after a long-standing issue with the roof truss system in place. Thomas said repairs would be quite costly, and the building owner, Thomas’ brother-in-law, was unwilling to move forward with repairs, leaving the building unstable.
“Being in the business all these years, I figured, if I were in my 40s or 50s, I’d go for it (repairing the roof),” Thomas said in a phone interview. “But that’s just not something we’re interested in doing, so we decided to close.”
The bow truss system used for the roof of the building is one that has not been used since the 1960s, according to Thomas, who has a background in construction.
“I think it’s a great community of our customers. It’s been over three decades with The Brandin’ Iron, and I’m just optimistic that it will probably resurface at some point,” Thomas said.
Over the long history of The Brandin’ Iron, big names in country music, such as Willie Nelson and Jason Aldean, have graced the stage inside the San Bernardino establishment. The Brandin’ Iron has also been featured on film and provided the mechanical bull that the movie character Borat rode in the 2006 film by the same name, according to IMDB.
“It’s been really an amazing experience, you know, Taylor Swift and every new (country) male vocalist of the year since the early ’90s have been through The Brandin’ Iron,” Thomas said. “It definitely has a rich history in country music in Southern California.”
Aside from its well-known country music roots, The Brandin’ Iron also became a go-to spot for many 18-and-over patrons on the college nights that were hosted and a popular place for employment.
“It does have deep roots because it’s generational. I mean, at some point, we had the grandma, the mom, the kids, and the grandkids. Everyone’s worked there,” Thomas said.
KFRG on-air personality Vicki Pepper said that there was something magical about The Brandin’ Iron and the evenings with country music and line dancing that brought so many together.
“Just from our posts alone about the closure, people were commenting that it was their home away from home or that they met their significant other there, which is so bittersweet for us to see,” she said.
“We lost one of our radio announcers in 2019, Jimmy Hoppa, and we actually had his memorial service there because he also worked there on the side as well as working at KFROG,” Pepper continued. “And through our history, we could call Bill in an instant and ask him to team up for a food drive there or for something else and he would always be up for it with no questions asked. Bill always gave back to the community and was the first to volunteer when there was a need, that’s what made this landmark so special.”
Dozens of loyal patrons also shared their stories on the venue’s official Instagram page.
“My aunt used to come here when she was young then my brothers and I started coming here when we were old enough, this is so sad to hear,” Instagram user Marina Beeson shared.
“College nights will never be the same,” several users commented and liked.
Thomas shared that he has already received emails from others who may be interested in taking the business over.
“We’ve enjoyed our time with our employees and our guests, and it’s been a fantastic experience. We’re heartfully sorry to have to end on this note, but I’m an optimistic person,” Thomas said.
