Two Houston bartenders helping to transform Galveston's former 'red-light district'

DTO co-founders Ian Ramirez, left, and Brad Stringer, right, on a busy Saturday night service. DTO co-founders Ian Ramirez, left, and Brad Stringer, right, on a busy Saturday night service. Photo: Darla Guillen/Houston Chronicle Photo: Darla Guillen/Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 47 Caption Close Two Houston bartenders helping to transform Galveston's former 'red-light district' 1 / 47 Back to Gallery

Some Houston bartenders are making a splash in Galveston, at an improbable address for a new business.

Former Boheme bar staff Ian Ramirez and Brad Stringer — who's also known for being among the founding staff members at Heights bar Johnny's Gold Brick — put down roots in Galveston with business partner Robert Hollis. Over the summer the trio opened Daiquiri Time Out, better known as DTO, at 2701 Market St.

DTO is joined by a small string of other retailers west of 25th Street by the Strand.

That might not seem peculiar to those unfamiliar with the area's onetime reputation as a hub of prostitution. It's known to islanders as the old red-light district, where brothels once lined the streets between 25th and 29th.

Now, it's a small up-and-coming dining row that attracts Galveston natives and tourists alike. Nearby are fellow newcomers Soul 2 Soul, 3104 Market St., a Southern fare restaurant, and Gypsy Joynt, 2711 Market St. The latter is an American cafe launched by a Massachusetts family who relocated to Galveston.

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For the owners of DTO, the decision to establish their bar on this block was simple. Rental prices were more affordable just off the Strand, but it's still only blocks from the tourist district.

"People ask why we came to Galveston, why we opened (this side) of 25th," Ramirez says. "Our goal was to open a small business. It's not an easy thing for someone who doesn't have investors, and we wanted to prove that you don't have to spend an enormous amount of money."

Likewise, Stringer says that they're proud of what they've "put together so far on a little money and a lot of hard work."

"I think this block will definitely change over the next year or two," Stringer says. "We're off the beaten path, but we're a destination bar in a destination spot."

Co-founder Ramirez agrees. "People drive out of their comfort zones if a place offers quality service and quality product," he explains.

Previously, the main outpost in that area was Maceo Spice & Import Company, a longtime island business founded and still owned by iconic Galveston family, the Maceos. Ironically, they ran Galveston during the prohibition era, and their spice shop/cafe is across the street from the bar.

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DTO's owners learned about the Maceos, as well as other general island history, while poring over archives — historic maps, menus and advertisements — at Galveston's Rosenberg Library. They say they wanted to learn more about their new home so that it might inform the look, feel and menu at the bar.

Their research and strategy seems to be working. Despite the area's prior reputation, Stringer says Galveston residents "really support it," adding that 90 percent of their clientele is comprised of locals.

By now, many Galveston residents are familiar with the bar's offerings, although the name might at first be misleading. The primary drink offerings are mixed cocktails, with a few frozen options. Eventually, they say, the bar's menu will include seasonal and specialty cocktails. Stringer competes in cocktail competitions, which leads to new ideas for a separate drinks list. For now, the menu features primarily old-fashioned, quintessential concoctions.

"These are classic cocktails, and what's more historic than Galveston?" Stringer says.