El Chaparrel

Divey, though there’s nothing on tap, the bottles are cold.
Dark & dingy, there’s usually a juke box playing or else soccer or news on the flat screen TV. 25¢ M&M peanut machine. A 50¢ billiard table. Also super bottle discounts all day on Thursdays. People often bring in food or snacks to share with whoever’s there — chips, sunflower seeds, etc. It’s on the busy intersection of Vernor and Clark St, and has a parking lot. Look for the neon OPEN sign on the otherwise unmarked building on the NW corner.
**ca$h only** (though there’s an ATM across the street in the gas station)

We were out for a Saturday taco truck lunch in SW Detroit and came upon a bar at Clark and Vernor. No sign… Wait a minute, we thought, isn’t this the place referenced by Dil F. in the dive bar thread on Unilocal?The one he mentioned he hadn’t yet stepped foot into and the one he implored fellow Unilocalers to investigate? Against my pleas to keep on going — hey we had the dog with us — the boyfriend parked, told the dog we’d be right back and dragged me into said bar. Welllll…
It turns out that this place is pretty cool! The owner (Xavier), his wife, and a random homeless-​looking guy populated the joint. We got a couple of Coronas and a shot of tequila. The boyfriend and Xavier got chatty. Another (on the house) tequila shot later and we were all posing for pictures (including the homeless looking guy — Leroy, I think). I mentioned to the boyfriend that our dog was still out in the car and, before I knew it, Xavier insisted we bring her into the bar.
A little bit later we bid farewell to our new friends and promised to return, even, perhaps, shoot a little pool.
This is one of those places — family owned, perhaps a few regulars on occasion, soccer on the TV, with friendly, and gracious hosts.
**Footnote**
I can’t believe I forgot to mention that Xavier is a member of a Mariachi band! He sang some bars from a few songs in his enchanting, deep voice. I believe he plays the guitar in his band as well. After that tequila, I attempted to hire him for my wedding reception. Upon waking the next day, I am still convinced we should hire him.