-Clay Wright
I can always count on having a memorable conversation over a German beer with Austin whenever I'm in Wantec. In my opinion, this and his excellent beer recommendations are what anyone should look for in a bartender and a friend. He's been a staple at WantecVR since day one, so I'm very happy to share this interview, as his love for Wantec and the community that's been built here really comes out in his answers. I hope you enjoy it!
How did you first hear about WantecVR?
"I first heard of Wantec through Karl, one of our earlier employees. We went out for some drinks, and he told me about a place that serves beer and offers VR, and I immediately bee-lined towards S Main Street."
What is your favorite memory of the owner, Stef?
"Stef provides us with a lot of memorable lore. I would say the best memory was when we took a group trip to visit distilleries and breweries in and outside of the state. Not only was it a great experience for a 20-something like myself, but I also learned a lot about the process of distilling, which helps me get a better idea of what I’m selling to people daily."
When did you know WantecVR was staying at?
"As corny as it sounds, I knew I was going to stick around since day one. This place instantly made an impression on me. I love cars, video games, and beer. The first day I stepped into the building, my immediate thought was something along the lines of, 'Oh my god, this place was designed around everything I’m into. This can’t be real!'"
What was WantecVR like when you first started?
"When I first started working at Wantec, I was hired to do just about everything, from bartending to running games. I was a little anxious at first, but once I got into the groove, I started to really enjoy working for the business."
Why is WantecVR a place worth staying at?
"Wantec will always be a place worth staying at; even if I’m balancing jobs, I will still do whatever I can to get a shift here or there because the work environment is extremely relaxed, and the employee dynamic is better than any other place I’ve worked at by far."
What makes WantecVR different as a bar aside from our games and virtual reality?
"The community, hospitality, and acceptance for any person is what makes Wantec different. It’s a safe and welcoming place for everyone, right near downtown."
What makes a “regular” at WantecVR, in your opinion?
"The interesting thing about Wantec is, because of all the different amenities and games we offer, we get different types of regulars. Despite people coming in for entirely different reasons, all of our regulars get along with each other. We’re bringing extremely niche communities together to form one big family."
What is your favorite drink and why?
"My favorite drink is definitely Hoegaarden. It’s a Belgian wheat beer that is pretty hard to find in a bar setting, but thanks to Stef, Wantec is loaded with it, along with an assortment of many other Euro-style beers."
What kind of improvements are you wanting to see out of WantecVR?
"As far as improvements, there aren’t too many things I can think of. One thing that does come to mind is the future of Wantec hosting more game tournaments. League night has been a huge success, and I believe we could easily do the same thing with games like Mortal Kombat, Super Smash Bros, Call of Duty, etc."
Be sure to see Austin soon at WantecVR!
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