Manchester ex-pool hall a go-to place for chili buns, some of Kentucky’s best burgers
By Matt WickstromContributing writer
For residents of Manchester there’s been one go-to place to unwind after a long workday for the past 70-plus years.
Pat’s Snack Bar, 112 Town Branch Rd, was first opened in 1949 by Pat House as a pool hall. A few years later he added a kitchen out back and began serving burgers, hot ham and cheese sandwiches, chili buns and more.
House originally snagged the chili bun recipe from the town’s old drive-in theatre and it’s stayed the same ever since, even thought the bar has been owned by Charles Stivers since 2011.
The food has a long history as an inexpensive and filling alternative to home-cooked meals for workers in coal mines and other day laborers who used to gather at pool halls to socialize after long days on the job.
“The chili buns are exactly what they sound like — a Nathan’s all-beef weiner stuffed inside a bun and smothered in chili,” said Stivers. “It’s simple, but delicious!”
One of the top sellers at Pat’s Snack Bar in Manchester: The burgers, which are made to order and come as sliders, singles, doubles, triples or as one-pound monster patties. Silas Walker swalker@herald-leader.com
Cheese burgers, chili buns and a monster burger are just some of the cheap offerings from Pat’s Snack Bar in Manchester, Ky., Friday, April 15, 2022. The burgers are made to order and come as sliders, singles, doubles, triples or as one pound monster patties. The meat is delivered fresh from Booneville Shopwise. Silas Walker swalker@herald-leader.com
Pat’s Snack House menu, bar
While chili buns are one of Pat’s staples, the go-to items on the menu are its burgers, which February 2020 was named the fourth best burger in the state by Big 7 Travel, an online source for the best travel and food recommendations worldwide. Stivers credits the ranking to the fresh meat they have delivered every three days from Booneville Shopwise. Burgers are made to order and come as sliders, singles, doubles, triples or as one-pound monster patties.
“We’ve tried it all, but we found out early on that we are a cheeseburger joint,” said Stivers. “We want to have variety, but even more important to us is consistency. We want to make sure that what we do have on our menu is done well and to a consistently high standard. Customers have always loved our burgers, so we’ve decided to hone in on that to offer the best product possible.”
Other items cooked up in Pat’s kitchen include chicken salad, chicken, tenderloin and rib-eye sandwiches; and more.
Pat’s Snack Bar owner Charles Stivers remembers coming in when he was young, he bought the bar in 2011 and added a kitchen out back and began serving burgers, hot ham and cheese sandwiches, chili buns and more in Manchester, Ky., Friday, April 15, 2022. Silas Walker swalker@herald-leader.com
The patio area at Pat’s Snack Bar offers an area for patrons to smoke and enjoy seating on a deck in Manchester, Ky., Friday, April 15, 2022. Silas Walker swalker@herald-leader.com
Keeping Pat’s Legacy Alive
Following House’s death in 2011, Stivers, a former coal mine worker with an accounting degree who’s also the third cousin of Kentucky State Senate President Robert Stivers, was approached by a friend about going in as 50/50 as partners to keep the landmark business open. He agreed and less than a year later was the sole owner.
The shack was on the verge of closing whenStivers took over, so he opted to shake things up by removing the pool hall (which he hopes to bring back on the building’s second floor at a later date) in 2016 in favor of a bar. The bar carries everything from domestic beers to more than 70 bourbons ranging from Blanton’s to Woodford Reserve, Buffalo Trace and Pappy Van Winkle, according to manager Samantha Johnson.
According to Stivers, despite the rich legacy of Pat’s he ran into several roadblocks when open the a bar. The city had just voted to allow alcohol sales in June 2011, but many people were still skeptical at first of having a bar in town.
Bottles of select bourbon sit in a display case at Pat’s Snack Bar in Manchester, Ky., Friday, April 15, 2022. Pat’s Snack Bar boasts a large collection of bourbons. Silas Walker swalker@herald-leader.com
The bar lit up before opening at Pat’s Snack Bar in Manchester, Ky., Friday, April 15, 2022. Silas Walker swalker@herald-leader.com
“I could probably put the same thing in Lexington and walk up to any bank and have it financed, but around here that kind of help has been hard to come by,” said Stivers. “I’m not one to lean on borrowed money so my feelings weren’t hurt by it, and people have come around and wound up supporting us since then. We just hit a few bumps in the road early on because we’ve never had (a legal bar) in Manchester prior to this.”
However, the community has slowly embraced Pat’s once again. Much like it was back in the day, Pat’s is again the city’s go-to spot to catch up on the news of the day, get a darn good burger and now grab a brew. Even when they weren’t allowed to dine-in early in the pandemic, Pat’s saw record delivery and carryout that helped to sustain the business during one of the darkest stretches of its existence.
“I remember sneaking into Pat’s as a kid to get food,” said Stivers. “I have so many memories of this place, and I know I’m not alone. It’s an honor to be leading Pat’s Snack Bar and carrying on its cherished legacy here in town. When people think of Manchester, Pat’s is usually the first thing that comes to mind. Despite some of the struggles in recent years, I’m grateful that that’s still the case.”
Matt Wickstrom is a freelancer covering food, music and more. You can follow him on Instagram at @WickstromWrites.
Pat’s Snack Bar has been open since 1949, 73 years, in Manchester, Ky., Friday, April 15, 2022. Silas Walker swalker@herald-leader.com
Pat’s Snack Bar has been open since 1949, 73 years, in Manchester, Ky., Friday, April 15, 2022. Silas Walker swalker@herald-leader.com
