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Cheers! McMurphy's gets new owner, new name
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Posted by admin Wed Nov 30, -0001 00:00:00 PST
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0 responses 0 comments So here’s a story about a 30-year-old man of Mexican-Indian descent, who co-owns an Irish bar, on the east side of town.
To say that Abel Sixtos breaks the mold would be an understatement. 
If you asked him, he would tell you that he is a man of humble beginnings with big dreams.
“I’m an eastside boy,” Sixtos said. “I grew up in a normal family — I just had a lot of ambition to do something with my life.”
He worked in construction for nearly 12 years, but jumped to a completely different line of work to pursue his real dream. 
“It is a lot of people’s dream to own a bar, and I went for it,” Sixtos said.
Almost three years ago, Sixtos came across a longtime Bakersfield establishment, a favorite watering hole then called “Murphy’s”.
Ray Murphy bought the place in 1984 — though it’s believed the bar itself has been in its same location, under several different names, since about 1963.
After he died, his wife, Mary Murphy took over and ran the bar herself until June 2005 when the lease ran out.
Later that same year, Sixtos became the co-owner of what had been a local favorite, especially on St. Patrick’s Day.
Situated right off the Union Avenue exit of Highway 178, east of Monterey Street, the bar exuded an old-school ambiance, which Sixtos hoped to preserve.
“I was interested in keeping the tradition going,” Sixtos said.
In the beginning, his business purchase was not necessarily accepted by the local neighborhood, according to Sixtos.
“I heard all kinds of rumors that people were going to protest that I was going to buy the place,” he said.
With a rather dry sense of humor, he explained, “I think because, you know, I’m not Irish.”
But, Sixtos was determined to save a dying tradition, while trying to improve it at the same time, he said.
Hence, he re-named the old haunt, “McMurphy’s,” as an homage to the former bar.
Surrounded by brick walls and tables with Irish clovers, a digital juke box in the corner and an outside patio, the newly remodeled McMurphy’s is a mixture of both past and present.
“Everything you see in here is brand new,” said Sixtos, who added there may only be one or two original Murphy’s items that stayed.
Although he wants former Murphy’s patrons to feel at home, Sixtos also seeks to attract a new, McMurphy’s following.
He notes that, so far, customers approve McMurphy’s new look.
“I’ve had old customers come in — they actually stop and look around first, Sixtos said. “Then they say, ‘We’re so glad it’s reopened again — and that feels good.”
Raul Trinidad used to be a regular at the old Murphy’s.
Now, he finds himself frequenting McMurphy’s.
“It’s a whole lot of change. It’s comfortable,” he said. “There is a different mixture of crowd who comes in here.”
With the bar on the east side of Bakersfield, Sixtos is aware of the stereotypical notions about the location.
Still, this did not hamper Sixtos’ plans, he said.
In fact, Sixtos reassures his customers that respectable, working-class people have a safe place at McMurphy’s.
“Yes, this is the east side, but, we want people to come in and feel safe,” Sixtos said. “They can have a few drinks and go back to work the next day.”
Terry Trinidad, Raul’s wife, came to check out the bar for the first time after work on a recent Friday.
“It’s nice.  They’re very attentive to you,” she said. “You don’t really feel threatened or anything.”
Open from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., Monday through Sunday, the bar is sure to fit different schedules.
Although they currently do not have a menu, the free entrance is sure to attract customers.
Different events at the bar constantly keep Sixtos busy.
“I've put in about sixteen hours a day,” he said.
The bar’s first re-opening on Feb. 1 saw a successful turnout, yet Sixtos remains humble.
“It was completely word of mouth,” he said.
He also hopes for the same turnout during the bar’s official grand opening, tentatively scheduled for March 3.
Of course, with a name like “McMurphy’s,” the bar will also offer specials during St. Patrick’s Day.
Sixtos notes that he could not have accomplished this first step into the business world on his own.
“My wife has been really supportive — she’s standing behind me 100 percent,” Sixtos said. “I’ve also had really good friends — we stuck by each other and just tried to lift ourselves up.”
For others who might also have dreams of owning a business one day, the young entrepreneur offered this advice:
“Work hard and never stop fighting, there will always be hard times. And wish for the best.”

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