Pistol Pete's brews popular bartender

Repeating as the Auburn Journal "Best of the Best Bartender," Pistol Pete's Brew & Cue's Pete Aroz has seen the Downtown Auburn business grow in stature into not only one of the popular options for locals but a go-to place for returning Auburnites.Take Thanksgiving, for instance, when Pistol Pete's is humming with impromptu class reunions going back 20 years or more."The night before Thanksgiving is a Wednesday and it's the busiest day of the year for us," Aroz said. "I don't know who declared it but we end up having multiple class reunions."The spacious barroom has played host to as many as 1,200 people on one of those Thanksgiving Eves, he said.Aroz deflects much of the honor onto a team at Pistol Pete's and the adjoining Liquor Outlet that keeps the business on top of customer needs in a very competitive market. He singles out his brother, Troy Aroz, his sister, Tomi Kiddoo, and the liquor store's Eddie Robinowitz as important factors in winning the award. So too are a staff that make things work, "whether it takes two hours or 20 hours," he said.Another big factor is his father, Pete Sr., Aroz said. "It's nice to be considered in that category," Aroz said. "My role is keeping the machine rolling. It helps to have a solid staff."Aroz has seen Auburn as well as the business grow during the 11 years it's been open at 140 Harrison Ave. While Auburn's oldest and best-loved drinking establishment The Shanghai shut down two years ago, Aroz said that he's constantly amazed at the variety of other bars there are."Everybody's got their own neighborhood thing," he said. "We've seen more competitors in town but what it equates to is the growth in town."Gold Country Media's Gus Thomson can be reached at gust@goldcountrymedia.com, or post a comment at auburnjournal.com.Best BartenderWho: Pete ArozWhen: Pistol Pete's Brew & CueWhere: 140 Harrison Ave., AuburnCall: (530) 885-5093