Keeping the good times rolling since 2014.
On a quiet Little Malop Street, Pistol Pete’s Food n Blues made waves when it first opened in 2014, and its standing as a cult music venue and giant of Geelong’s dining scene hasn’t changed in the years since.
Transforming a quaint 70 sq m premises into a vibrant temple of live music and the cuisine of the Southern States, this March marks nine years for the venue, affectionately known as Pistol Pete’s.
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“It feels great, it doesn’t feel that long. It’s been a massive journey, which is full of some great moments,” says owner, chef and blues lover Pete Raimondo.
“A lot has happened in those nine years. When we first opened in 2014 the street was fairly empty so it took a while for people to know there was something new happening here. As time went on we expanded on what we offered both culinary and entertainment-wise. Our profile has grown, as has the Lt Malop St Westend precinct with more unique businesses opening up in the strip.”
The moment you enter the down-to-earth hangout, the Southern-style vibe is clear with a dark blue interior, old-fashioned glass windows and wooden floors with blues memorabilia splashed across the walls and photos from Pete’s very own trips to the states.
Drawing from passions of both blues music and the cuisine of the Southern States, Pete has fostered a true American experience over the years: There’s a hearty selection of Authentic Southern and Louisiana Cuisine (think heart-warming gumbo, jambalaya, towering burgers, chicken and waffles, Southern-fried chicken and Cajun fries), delicious cocktails and a diverse offering of electric live blues, soul, country, Americana and jazz music.
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A true giant within the music and dining scene, Pete credits the enduring success to consistency.
“We pride ourselves in always doing our utmost to deliver quality food and service. Whether patrons are dining in or taking it home, we want them to have a great experience. The live music we offer is also another reason people enjoy coming to Pistol Pete’s. It’s an intimate venue that adds to the atmosphere.”
Resonating with locals and tourists alike, Pete has taken a dream and turned it into a reality, cementing his adored venue as the only place in the Geelong region where you can taste, smell, hear and feel like you are right in the middle of the Southern States, while simultaneously injecting a generous dose of vibrancy and flavour into Little Malop Street
“It’s a unique venue, it’s not a “themed” or a “cliche” type of venue, it’s real and alive,” Pete says.
“You can feel it when you walk in and that comes from the belief and passion that we have for what we do. Our food is authentic Southern goodness and we have had some amazing international, national and local musicians perform here. We sure have our Mojo working!”
To celebrate the near-decade milestone, the beloved venue is hosting a great lineup of live music for the month with a grand celebration on its birthday weekend featuring international guest Ben Walters, the British piano king of boogie-woogie.
“We are excited to have Ben Waters from the UK, back at Pistol Pete’s for our Birthday weekend and people can expect nothing but a great night of the best boogie woogie piano from the king of UK Boogie Woogie and his band!”
With the hospitality industry being one of the hardest hit by the lockdown measures and Covid pandemic, Pistol Pete’s continues to adapt its business to the best of its abilities, finding creative ways to survive and reach its nine-year milestone.
“There have been a few along the way, but Covid and post-Covid have really made us keep reviewing what and how we do things,” Pete explains.
“The resilience, dedication and hard work from the whole team at Pistol Pete’s and the support from our loyal customers have gotten us through the worse of it. We’re looking forward to sharing more good times with everyone in the future.
“We are always looking at introducing something new to Pistol Pete’s, whether it’s some new Southern food, drinks or musical acts,” he continues.
“We want to keep evolving and growing so we can keep offering our customers a real taste of the South, right here in Geelong.”
Pistol Pete’s Food N Blues is located at 93A Little Malop Street, Geelong. Tickets to gigs are available here.
