Fort Bliss’ Decision To Ban Brigade From Eastside El Paso Bar Stuns Owner

By ABC-7 Anchor/Reporter Ken Molestina

EL PASO — The Three Legged Monkey is a popular bar on El Paso’s Eastside and draws a wide range of patrons. However, the hangout is now off-limits to one unit of soldiers from Fort Bliss.

Colonel James Green, the commander of Fort Bliss’ Mobilization and Deployment Brigade, has put The Three Legged Monkey on his off-limits list.

This stunned Mike Armstrong, the bar’s owner. He says he doesn’t know why this particular unit of soldiers is banned from socializing at his establishment.

Officials from Fort Bliss would not say much, but through a written statement said the reason was due to “incidents at the bar that impacted the health and welfare of the soldiers” assigned to this unit.

Carlos Venegas is a patron of The Three Legged Monkey and says he has seen less-than-admirable behavior on the part of the soldiers, but at the same time thinks making the club off-limits to them isn’t the answer.

In the meantime, Armstrong said he doesn’t want any bad blood between him and the Army commander.

Armstrong said the club appreciates what the soldiers do for the United States and values their patronage. He would like to find out how his business can make things better for the commander and his brigade.

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission told ABC-7 it did not have any pending complaints with The Three Legged Monkey.