Peggy Barclay, photo: Kelly Lewis
If the walls of The Buffet Bar and Crock Pot could talk, they’d probably only have half as many stories as Peggy Barclay. Known as “Miss Peggy,” the iconic bartender has been an integral part of The Buffet, 538 E. 9th St., for the past 30 years.
“The former owner grabbed me up the day I turned 50,” said Barclay, who recently turned 80. “I’ve seen three generations go through this bar with me—grandfathers, then fathers, then sons.”
If you’ve ever been to “The Buff” in the morning, there’s a good chance you’ve run into Miss Peggy, who works three days a week from 6 a.m. to noon. She’s sassy, fun, loves her customers and they love her right back.
“This is my bar,” Barclay said. “I love my people, my people seem to really appreciate me, and that’s all I can ask for.”
Throughout the years, Barclay has watched the crowd change from largely university students to a multi-purpose neighborhood bar, and helped hold down the fort when the bar changed ownership four years ago. A native of Michigan, Barclay came to Tucson over 35 years ago when her husband was transferred here with the Air Force. She quickly picked up stints bartending, first at a bar called The Western Posada, which sat on the corner of Stone Avenue and Broadway Boulevard, she said, and then at The Dutchman, which is now 47 Scott.
“Ted (Bair, the former owner of the Buffet) used to come over and watch me,” Barclay said. “He was breathing down my neck for four months before he decided he wanted me, and I’ve been here ever since.”
Working the morning shift has given her a pretty diverse the crowd of regulars, including hospital staff that come in for a drink after their shift to unwind, firefighters from three different units and locals from all walks of life.
“I like The Buffet and their specials in general, but Miss Peggy is a legend around here,” said Jenner Bryant, a customer at the bar. “If there’s a problem here, everyone will stand up and take care of the situation if Miss Peggy’s alone, and I’ve always liked that.”
Though she’s substantially scaled back her hours from the nearly 70 a week she used to put in, Miss Peggy says she has no plans on leaving anytime soon. Her 80th birthday was in July, and the bar threw a little party in conjunction with Bair’s 85th birthday to celebrate.
“That was probably the nicest thing that ever happened to me,” Barclay said. “I’ve never regretted one moment at this bar. I love it. I’m going to be here, until the day I’m not here.”
On Trends in Mixology: “This is an old-fashioned bar, we’ve been here since 1934, so all of our trends are set. There are so many things going on with flavored vodkas and now we have Jack Daniels Honey. The lady nurses that come in here seem to like it.”
Favorite Ingredients: “I’m not a mixologist, I’m a bartender. I can make any drink. When I started working at 6 a.m., the crowd seemed to like my Bloody Marys. I use good vodka, my own mixture and V8, topped with a mixture Pope (Wine and Liquors) carries for bloodys.”
Signature Drink: The Nurses Special
1 oz. Bacardi Rum
1 oz. Sweet Tea Vodka
splash Cranberry
splash 7-up
splash Sweet & Sour
Club Soda
Combine ingredients in a tall glass over ice. Shake or blend. Garnish with lime, cherry or orange.
Learn more about “The Buff” at TheBuffetBar.com or call 623-6811.
