New Whiskey Row bar top conjures up plenty of history

The bar top at Matt's Saloon on Whiskey Row may be new, but it's branded with a whole lot of history. Dozens of longtime ranchers and their families showed up Tuesday for the unveiling of the bar top that showcases their cattle brands and family names. Saloon owners Matt Brassard and Marco Espitia raised a shot glass with Matt Butitta, who gave the two young men a chance to run a saloon eight years ago just like Butitta got the chance as a young man in 1962. Then all the ranching families surged toward the bar to find their brands. "I haven't seen that many cowboys in that bar for I don't know how long," Espitia said. "I know it's just a bar top, but it's more than that," Brassard said. "Their kids and grandkids will be able to come in someday and say, 'Hey, that's my granddad's brand.'" The sight of so many of their old friends got the ranchers to reminiscing about some of their early days on Whiskey Row and out on the range...DailyCourier