I went to this venue for the Big Muddy Records Chili cook-off with my girlfriend and we were assaulted by the owner, Steve Pullman, and an employee named Patrick Kelliman,
This is a true story:
My girlfriend and I picked up another friend on the way to the show, we got there early in the afternoon, and it was an all-day affair. Not long after arriving, a bartender (Patrick Kelliman) noticed that I had a half-pint of brandy in my pocket and asked if I would go leave it in my car, as it was against the rules for me to have it there. I agreed, and my car was just outside, so I went to do that. As my girlfriend and I walked down the sidewalk, Patrick whispered something to Steve Pullman, who had just 30 minutes ago collected $20 from us at the door.
"You guys can't come back in, you know," Steve called down the street to us. When we asked him why, he insisted that it was because we were thieves.
Thieves? Yes, because I had a half-pint of brandy in my pocket. He literally said I was taking food from his table. "We just gave you $20, there has been no deprivation of property," we reasoned. When he puffed his chest up, put his face close to mine and asked me what I do for a living, I told him I answer questions like that, and we walked away.
We went to a friends house by Tower Grove park and discussed the matter. My friend is in a few local bands and has played at Off Broadway plenty of times. He was shocked to hear Steve Pullman reacted in that way, suggesting he was probably just drunk and stressed by the low attendance and took it out on us.
After a couple hours, we decided to change clothes and go back, we had, after all, paid our $20, still had the stamps on our hands to prove it, and couldn't imagine he'd be still holding a grudge after we'd been exiled for a couple hours from the show we'd paid good money to see. So, my girlfriend and I exchanged shirts and pants, and, sufficiently costumed, returned to Off-Broadway. Steve Pullman was still at the gate, and looked at us and our stamps and told us we were fine to come in. We hurried inside in time to see the Hooten Hallers starting up, and were relieved to be back among friends.
Sadly, it was short-lived.
Patrick Kelliman approached my girlfriend and starting speaking into her ear, apparently saying "I see what's going on here, I'm calling the cops," and soon he turned to me and said similar things calling us trespassers. I shrugged him off, because he seemed pretty drunk and I doubted he'd call the cops into the venue for trespassing since the owner himself admitted us into the show. I guess by "cops" he meant "his dad" or "the owner" or whatever, and when I stepped out for a smoke, Steve Pullman grabbed me and threw me to the ground. I got up and he threw me again, this time throwing me into a couple metal chairs and tables. This repeated a few times, and he kept screaming "You fucking hippie thieves!". My girlfriend helped me up and we ran out to the sidewalk to escape the violence. At this point, I realized he'd knocked my glasses off and was going to ask for them when Patrick Kelliman blind-sided me. He was with a posse now, and the scene quickly degenerated into a street-brawl, involving Steve Pullman, Patrick Kelliman, and their crowd of cronies versus my girlfriend and me. At one point, with some fat guy was sitting on my legs, Patrick Kelliman leaned down and whispered in my ear "Next time I see you I am going to murder you." When we finally managed to get away, we were walking down the sidewalk and two of the cronies ran up apologizing. When we explained that we just wanted my glasses they ran back and grabbed them off the table next to Steve Pullman and returned them to me with much apology.
All in all, great music, terrible service. I'll go back when Patrick Kelliman disappears and Steve Pullman finds God. read more