Bars & Saloons
The Wizzard
2325 Church St, Galveston, TX
The Wizzard is a locally and woman-owned island bar in downtown Galveston, housed in a building dating to the late 1800s. It originally opened in 1995, closed for about three years after damage from Hurricane Ike, and reopened in 2011. Inside, a pool table and a jukebox stocked with Texas country, blues, and rock (along with an Aggie band album that draws a laugh from the Texas A&M-Galveston crowd nearby) set the tone for a low-key neighborhood dive.
Owner-bartender Glynda Oglesby is known for sharing local history and knowledge of the building with regulars, and a back patio accommodates smokers. The crowd skews toward locals in their thirties and forties, though the bar is described as welcoming to newcomers and tourists passing through downtown Galveston.
Common Questions
How old is The Wizzard's building?
The building dates to the late 1800s; the bar itself first opened in 1995.
Did The Wizzard close at any point?
Yes, it closed for about three years after damage from Hurricane Ike and reopened in 2011.