Sure, St. Joseph’s got a ton of parades, but do you know what else they’ve got plenty of? Bars. ¶ A town with too many bars is rarely something people complain about. Let’s face it, there’s a lot of people who want a place to go to knock back a few cold ones, listen to some live music, shoot some pool or just hang with friends and talk it out. ¶ In the past few months, a couple watering holes have opened, and at least one establishment will begin to welcoming nightlife lovers in the upcoming weeks. ¶ Here are a few of the new and coming bars you can check out in St. Joseph.

HAMMERJACKS ROCK-N-ROLL SPORTS BAR | 512 Felix St.

What used to be St. Joseph’s only country music bar now has a totally different vibe.

The name HammerJacks Rock-N-Roll Sports Bar basically lays out the bar’s duel identity as sports bar and live music hangout. And besides, “It kind of really sounded cool after the name,” says Chad Vann, co-owner of HammerJacks.

As a sports bar, it has three 52-inch televisions and one 65-inch HD flatscreen that will broadcast games from local sports teams while purchasing sports television packages as needed for the NFL, Major League Baseball and other sports. For fight fans, Vann says HammerJacks will broadcast every pay-per-view UFC event and host upcoming weigh-in parties and after parties for upcoming Rob Calloway fights.

It’s not all about just watching sports at HammerJacks. People can shoot pool on three pool tables or challenge friends to darts on the bar’s two boards. Vann says the bar plans on starting pool and dart leagues in the fall.

Then, there’s the “Rock-N-Roll” side of HammerJacks. With a stage and dance floor, the bar has live music on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday nights, featuring hard rock, blues and Southern rock and bringing in bands from as far away as Oklahoma and Minnesota. HammerJacks is even attempting to satisfy a portion of the all-ages crowd by trying to schedule 18-and-up hard rock nights every Monday night. He saw the crowd that hung out at The Scallywag when it wanted to try to attract that sort of crowd while potentially building future clientele.

“They seem like they enjoy to be entertained, and 18-year-olds grow into 21-year-olds,” Vann says.

If there is not live music, there is a digital jukebox and plans to have karaoke nights, along with hopefully adding Nintendo Wii, Playstation 3 and XBox 360 to be played on the flatscreens. There’s also talk of eventually incorporating a kitchen, all plans the bar hopes to implement by building a crowd and having a good time doing it.

“I think there’s a lot of things St. Joe needs,” Vann says. “We’re trying to utilize all of the above, basically.”

SAMMY AND CASEY’S |805 Francis St.

Technically, the space called Sammy and Casey’s is still a part of Geneo’s Pizza & Pub. But Geneo DeSpain, owner and operator of Geneo’s, wanted it to feel like something different.

“We wanted to give it it’s own identity, so that’s why we named it Sammy and Casey’s,” DeSpain says.

The establishment gives guests a little bit of everything when it comes to activities. The “activity area” includes six pool tables, two Megatouch games, air hockey, a a foosball table, a digital jukebox and arcade games both new (Silverstrike Bowling, Golden Tee Live) and classic (Pac-Man, Galaga).

“We call it an activity area because there’s so much to do.”

The place may have been home to all-ages club The Scallywag, but with its booths and tons of hardwood practically everywhere, it doesn’t resemble it in the slightest.

DeSpain wants Sammy and Casey’s to be a place with a good family atmosphere and a facility available for rent if someone wants to host a special occasion or wedding reception. But it’s not totally for kids. With a full bar, Sammy and Casey’s is 21 and older after 9 p.m. and open Monday through Saturday from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. But if for some reason you ordered a late-night slice just before Geneo’s closes at 9 p.m., just go over the Sammy and Casey’s, pick out a booth and they’ll deliver it right to you.

KELLY’S PUB | 1415 Frederick Ave.

The blocks between 1100 and 1800 of Frederick Ave. are no strangers to Irish-style bars with Norty’s and the Hi-Ho. In a few weeks, you might as well call that section “Irish Row” when Kelley’s Pub opens on 1415 Frederick Ave.

When Pat Kelley bought the space and began working on it back in March, he knew he didn’t want it to have the vibe of the space’s former occupants.

“It’s not going to be The Bone,” Kelley says. Everything they used to have here is gone, almost.”

The “almost” is the long and narrow wood/metal tables, which now jet out from the wall, the bar and the old wooden walk-in cooler. The stage is gone, replaced by a pool table. They’ve touched up the place with a few round-top tables and a new awning while including a few video games like Golden Tee.

With the exception of possibly bringing in some acoustic Irish acts and the digital jukebox, music will not be the focus. Instead, like the old pubs, conversation will be the main noise coming from this establishment.

“We just know a lot of people, and they wanted a place to hang,” Kelley says.

Kelley has an appreciation for old bars and Irish pubs. He has a few historical relics from when Kelley’s Pub was the Schott’s Bar, including a framed 956 sign reading “No Ladies Allowed at Bar.” But Kelley wants people of all ages to feel welcome at his pub “as long as they behave themselves.”

— Blake Hannon | St. Joe Live Staff