Welcome back to the crypt, boils and ghouls! We slithered up from the bowels of the Flagstaff underground yet again this month for one of the best days we’ve had here in a long time. As per our usual modus operandi, it’s yet again in the most unlikely of places and we’re pleased to feature one of the most underrated strip malls this fine city has to offer. Lurking atop the hill just south of the hospital, the Haunted Bashas'/Sportsman’s complex is truly a party wonderland that both takes the patron back to days of Flag forgotten while hitting you with enough contemporary hellfire to keep it relevant.
Our first stop on our boozy voyage was the north-end grocer affectionately called Haunted Bashas'. Truth be told, we’re not sure if everyone calls it that, but the MOB staff recognize a place of otherworldly power and this is indeed it. The staff is fantastic and the liquor and beer selection is top notch, but when we first started shopping here heavily during the global pandemic, we noticed a few things that really stuck out to us. First off, the options for local beer were thorough, but there was always a flickering fluorescent lightbulb flickering ominously in at least one of the aisles. Full support, we thought, until we turned the corner looking for cough syrup and we were greeted by two twins in matching dresses who said, quote, “Come shop with us forever and ever and ever.� That seemed a bit off and when the MOB staff moved cautiously back, we nearly tripped over a child riding a tricycle right before taking a slow floating red balloon to the face. None of this is too out of our realm of experience, and again, the staff was super friendly, so we figured it’d be a healthy choice to grab a banana to go with our beer before heading back out into the strip. This is where we’re giving Haunted Bashas' a 10/10. The misters in the produce section drip upwards, in defiance of both the laws of God and nature, and we’re all about that. Other highlights include the hot food counter, where the fried chicken lunch special is cheap and delicious.
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