DALLAS — With election day just around the corner, the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium in Addison offers a bit of insight as to who might win this presidential election.
For the last four elections, this franchise has helped add a little fun during election season with some unofficial polling.
It’s a simple concept; they sell two commemorative glasses complete with each of the candidates’ face and personalized mockery. Every glass sold is a vote, and regulars feel confident this year will be another accurate prediction with Trump’s glasses being ahead since they went on sale first week of October.
The bar has some pretty faithful regulars like Bob Gant. He’s made the bar a second home and can be found drinking his favorite IPA any given day, of any given week.
If you go to the bar, chances are you'll run into him, and it’s been that way since 1997 before the presidential foolery, back then the bar had a different name.
“I came in and they had two or three of the beers that I liked that you couldn't find anywhere in Dallas back then,” said Gant, as he sipped his usual. “It always has been a family place because it’s had a lot of regulars, and I became one of those.”
Just ask anyone who works there and they’ll say good things about “Bob the Cowboy” a nickname employees have lovingly given him because he’s usually in a Stetson hat.
“It’s really hard to come by somebody that is generally super honest and just cares about people.” said Sara Purcell the bars general manager.
To Purcell, Gant is more than just a customer.
“I don’t have a father in my life so I kind of felt like he was that father figure,” said Purcell. “We’ve just kind of grown closer and closer to each other.”
Purcell and anyone who knows Gant will tell you he’s passionate about politics. It’s election time and he’s excited to see if the bar can add another correct prediction to their bragging rights.
“Honey I gotta go to the bar and see if Trump’s ahead or Biden’s ahead,” he said jokingly mentioning the tradition.
“They’re really good with promotions where they make you spend money on things you really don’t need, which I guess is what marketing is all about, said Gant. “You see people coming in everyday and buying a Trump glass, and if you really wanna spend 15 bucks a pop to cast a vote that really doesn’t count. The owner of the Saucer is going ‘yes!’”
In previous years the glasses have sold for $3 and $5 dollars. This year the glasses are $15.
On Trump’s glass you can find the words “Voting Rigged” with Biden’s reading “Vote by Mail.” Last year, this location in Addison sold 509 trump glasses at $5 a glass. This year, while Trump is ahead, the bar has sold more than 400 glasses overall as of October 30.
While Gant loves the tradition when it comes to voting, “All jokes aside getting out to vote is far more important than the fun of a $15-dollar glass” he said.
“To me it’s not a privilege, it’s a responsibility we have as American’s. If you don’t vote you have no room to complain about anything. We get the government we deserve, and we get it through voting,” said Gant.
Gant urges anyone reading this article to, “Go cast your vote!”
The Flying Saucer sells the glasses online. They’re available single or together in a collector's box at beerknurd.com or you could just go to The Flying Saucer in Addison and pay Gant a visit. Tell him Lupe sent you, he’s a nice guy.
As of Friday October 30, at 11 a.m. the score is: Trump 166, Biden 155.
If you have an interesting story or know someone who does, let us know about it. Share your ideas with DFW Reporter Lupe Zapata: Lupe.Zapata@Charter.com.