Dan's Silverleaf

Heres a play-by-play of how it all went down, straight from the man himself. 1993. Dan Mojica, despite being a decorated preventer of airplane explosions, realizes he is unhappy with his job refueling commercial aircraft. He resolves to either get another one or stop whining. Dec. 1994. Dan decides that opening a bar is his best bet for finding happiness, and cold beer, at work. Despite his family history of bar ownership, Dan has only ever BEEN a patron. Never a bar worker. Regardless, a space is secured at the old Stop Shop and Swap space at 109 N. Elm St in Denton. Dan cashes in his 401K, and approximately 4K is contributed by his Grandmother and Father-In-Law. March 14, 1995. Dans Bar, after a total investment of $12,700 and countless hours building out a previously empty space, opens its doors for the first time. Beer, wine, raw oysters, and peanuts are the main menu items. Maybe they are the only menu items. It was a long time ago and everyone was drinking. May, 1995. The bar makes enough money, $2,000, to install air conditioning. Smiles prevail as the heat of the Texas summer looms ominously over Dans thirsty patrons and their sweating beers. Local musicians literally start wandering in to check out Dans place. Many of them like what they find. Some of them never leave. Deep Blue Something signs their record deal at the bar. Pops Carter, Joe Pat Hennen, and Mary Cutrufello start booking shows regularly. Dan makes flyers out of actual paper. No computers necessary. Dans friend Pam Chittenden starts preparing high-class bar food in a rudimentary kitchen consisting of two hot plates. They eventually marry 20 years later, but thats a different story that involves many more hot plates. 1997ish. Details grow foggy. The main room spills into the next door space to accommodate more bands and bigger crowds. Theater seats are added near the sound guys perch. A makeshift bar at the back of the room, cash only if memory serves, pops up during shows, so thirsty revele