John T. Floore Country Store facts for kids
Floore's Country Store in 2012
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The John T. Floore Country Store is a famous music spot and a type of dance hall called a honky-tonk. It's located in Helotes, Texas. People often just call it Floore's Country Store or even just Floore's. This place is well-known because many Texas Country artists have played there. It's especially famous for its connection to Willie Nelson, who performed there often when he was starting his career. In 2006, Floore's Country Store was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site. The store is celebrated for its live music and was even nominated for "Nightclub of the Year" by the Academy of Country Music in both 2006 and 2013.
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The Story of Floore's Country Store
Floore's Country Store was started by a man named John T. Floore. He used to manage the Majestic Theater in San Antonio. The store first opened its doors in 1942.
From Grocery to Music Spot
At first, Floore's was a grocery store. It served people traveling between San Antonio and Bandera. But John T. Floore saw a bigger chance. Other dance halls nearby were doing very well. He thought a new music venue would be great for travelers. Floore used his experience from the Majestic Theater to book popular country artists. By the 1950s, the store was a well-known music spot. It started to attract big country music stars. These included Ray Price, Bob Wills, Johnny Cash, and Ernest Tubb.
Willie Nelson's Connection to Floore's
Floore's is very proud of its link to Willie Nelson. They even say it's his "musical birthplace." Willie Nelson and John T. Floore became friends when Nelson returned to Texas. Nelson had found it hard to start a music career in Nashville. People there didn't like his unique singing style.
A Special Partnership
Nelson and Floore decided to work together. Floore partnered with the Willie Nelson Music Company. The deal was that Nelson would play at Floore's every month. Because of this, The John T. Floore Country Store became very famous for its connection to Nelson and his music. Willie Nelson even mentioned Floore in his song "Shotgun Willie."
Live Music Albums Recorded at Floore's
Many musicians have recorded live albums at Floore's Country Store. These albums capture the energy of performances at this historic venue.
- "No. 2 Live Dinner (tracks 1-14) and Live Dinner Reunion by Robert Earl Keen
- Homemade Tamales (Live at Floore's) by Randy Rogers Band
- It All Happened Live In A Honky Tonk From Floore's Country Store by Jon Wolfe
- Live From Texas by The Last Bandoleros
- Live at Floore's Country Store by Nathan Hamilton & No Deal
