This new Columbus sports bar is offering a chance for people to make ‘pour decisions’
Jason Martinez began working at Columbus Water Works 28 years ago, not long after he graduated from Smiths Station High School.
In January, he thought it was time to look towards the future with the new year. Now 45-years-old, Martinez was having a conversation with a couple of his friends thinking about what they wanted from life when they’re in their 50s and 60s.
“I always wanted to have a bar,” Martinez said.
“I don’t know, man, that would be a poor decision,” his friend responded.
“You know, ‘Poor Decisions’ is kind of a cool name for a sports bar,” Martinez thought aloud.
About 10 months later, word of mouth about Martinez’s Pour Decisions Sports Bar almost caused the business to run out of food during its soft opening last weekend.
Making Pour Decisions
Martinez’s father, Fredy Martinez, is retired from both the military and law enforcement. The family moved to Columbus around 30 years ago when his father was stationed at Fort Moore and never left.
His father’s background made it important to Martinez that military and law enforcement be honored at his new bar, so he ensured active members receive 10% discounts on food at Pour Decisions.
“I know my Dad sacrificed a lot for our family,” Martinez said. “Sometimes, I wondered if he just had to have a uniform on…It’s just important that I show that love back, too.”
By the time Martinez was a teenager, he began dreaming of owning a neighborhood bar like he saw on the old television show Cheers, where he knows all the patrons and the patrons know him.
Not long after floating the idea to his friends in January of this year, Martinez began putting the wheels in motion. He found the location at 5870 Veterans Pkwy, and was able to come to an agreement to purchase the building from the previous owner.
Inside Pour Decisions
The bar is bigger than he initially imagined, but Martinez believes it’s still a perfect fit because of its central location on Veterans. People could come to Pour Decisions to watch a game, he said, then they’re not too far from downtown or they could easily go into North Columbus.
Inside the bar, there’s a “casino room” with Georgia Lottery gaming machines, a pool table, TouchTones music that allows people to choose songs from an app on their phone and an online golfing game that holds up to four people.
Customers can also call ahead to reserve a special ‘boxing ring’ style table if they’d like.
Televisions are placed throughout the bar to show games. Martinez quickly learned during his soft opening that Columbus has a lot of people from other areas in the nation who are interested in being able to watch more than just local games.
While he plans on playing regional football, basketball and baseball games, Martinez also ordered the NFL Sunday Ticket to show games for teams that are not located in the South.
Whatever sport or game people would like to watch, Martinez said, he will try to accommodate.
“One of the things that kind of bothers me is when I go to a sports bar, and All My Children is on — not knocking All My Children,” he said. “My goal is to have the TV’s all on sports channels.”
Pour Decisions offers a full menu with bar food along with Puerto Rican cuisine, Martinez said. People could order Cubano sandwiches or burgers and fries.
There is a full bar along with a drink menu that Martinez and his team created. One special drink named The Pour Decision is made with Bacardi 151.
“If you ever drank 151 it’s normally not a good night for anybody,” Martinez said. “So, it’s a poor decision. We limit that drink to just one per person because that 151 is a strong alcohol.”
Opening Pour Decisions
Martinez didn’t advertise the bar’s soft opening last weekend. He anticipated maybe 30 people showing up over the weekend.
They ended up with a packed house when the news spread by word of mouth and on the Columbus, GA Foodies Facebook Group. The social media group was responsible for another Columbus restaurant running out of food during a soft opening after a member posted about the business.
“We didn’t expect to get hammered,” Martinez said. “But I wasn’t going to turn nobody away.”
While they were much busier than expected, and had to scale down the menu on Sunday to avoid running out of food, Martinez appreciated the support.
“It goes to show that Columbus does support a small business and stuff,” he said.
The show of support was nice, Martinez said, but there’s also a responsibility on business owners to provide a good experience.
He knows there were glitches and hiccups over the week, but hopes customers understand that Pour Decisions will work to iron out the wrinkles as the business prepares for its grand opening this Saturday, Oct. 21. Martinez is looking forward to Columbus residents enjoying his bar going forward.
“I think it was a great, great decision (to open the bar),” he said. “My kids are very excited about it. My family’s very excited. I’m excited about it.”
This story was originally published October 18, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
