Billy Bob Barnett, a Texas A&M University graduate and professional football player, teamed up with nightclub owner and former car salesman, Spencer Taylor. While looking for a location to fit their idea, the men decided upon an abandoned 100,000-square-foot department store that was at one time an open-air cattle barn.
With some additional investors, Barnett and Taylor renovated the building's interior and exterior and opened the place to the public on April 1, 1981. Billy Bob's closed in January 1988, and reopened in October 1988 under new ownership and management. Holt Hickman, Don Jury, Steve Murrin and Billy Minick formed the new ownership group.
Mostly known for country music, the venue has also hosted acts such as Bob Hope and B.B. King.In 1983, Merle Haggard, while on stage, offered each person in the crowd of 5,095, a one-ounce Canadian Club Whiskey with a water chaser. The drinks totaled 40 gallons and at the time, cost $12,737.50. The stunt earned Haggard a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the purchaser of the biggest round ever.
Billy Bob's Texas celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2016. The celebration culminated in November with a weekend of shows from Shooter Jennings, Rival Sons and Willie Nelson.
Billy Bob's Texas has also been host to many movie and television projects. Baja Oklahoma (Willie Nelson, Susan Sarandon), Over the Top (Sylvester Stallone), and Necessary Roughness (Scott Bakula, Sinbad) have all been filmed there.
According to wikipedia
