What is something that sounds like a parody of America so bizarre you wouldn't think it could possibly exist in real life?
A Dallas-Fort Worth area Texas bar caught the attention of the internet for seemingly being the answer to that question.
The bar is called Bar9Eleven.
The theme?
All the horrors of September 11, 2001 in the United States.
Drove by this bar and though “huh I wonder what that’s about”. Turns out it’s about exactly what you think https://t.co/5zIKLZWJIs— Jesse Tyler (@Jesse Tyler) 1621297663.0
Blown away by this work of creative nonfiction depicting the owner of a tex mex restaurant in north texas as the ma… https://t.co/3zCpNqAuzJ— Jesse Tyler (@Jesse Tyler) 1621438849.0
The attacks on September 11, 2001 were perpetrated by the terrorist group Al-Qaeda and took the lives of 2,977 people (not including the 19 terrorists responsible) in the initial attack.
Planes were hijacked and crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington DC and United Flight 93 crashed in a field in Pennsylvania after the passengers aboard the flight fought back.
The bar has drawn heat for being in bad taste.
@d_o_o_m_y @jessebtyler Something for everybody... As long as they aren't expecting good taste.— Ltwitca (@Ltwitca) 1622316019.0
@jessebtyler @MaxKriegerVG I kept expecting there to be some kind of point? Especially since he makes an effort to… https://t.co/8jmnnGvtbF— Qúe (@Qúe) 1621445246.0
@jessebtyler This is disgusting.— Joel Greenup (@Joel Greenup) 1621461874.0
@jessebtyler like naming your new boat the titanic— Kenneth D (@Kenneth D) 1621555727.0
@jessebtyler $50 says the owner is a trumpublican who thinks he’s a “patriot”.— Paul Nadeau (@Paul Nadeau) 1621778191.0
The bar owner, Brent Johnson, features a number of plaques around the establishment detailing his own personal experience trying to open a Tex Mex restaurant during the attacks—essentially turning the day itself into a narrative about his own life, rather than the tragedy.
@jessebtyler/Twitter
@jessebtyler/Twitter
But Johnson hit back at the poor taste comments, saying he wants everybody who comes into his bar to "never forget that day."
Nothing says "lets get blackout drunk and forget our childhood trauma" like going to Fort Worth, TX in a 9/11 theme… https://t.co/v5FARYA3x6— Shawn Rosell - 3 (@Shawn Rosell - 3) 1622080693.0
the fact that this concept and poster are real is one of the most insane things I have ever seen in my entire life. https://t.co/e8ajybSEwI— jedi feral hog, esq. (@jedi feral hog, esq.) 1621572408.0
Re-evaluating my "Jonestown Massacre Buffet" idea https://t.co/F4GdGEYU2E— We Will Be Ruthless (@We Will Be Ruthless) 1621537238.0
On second thought, the cicadas are right to eat us. https://t.co/X56Eo1IEt3— LibbityBibbityBoo (@LibbityBibbityBoo) 1621451676.0
The bar's name was changed after a 2013 remodel.
Johnson reportedly chose the name after seeing a survey saying "80% of Americans" didn't know the 9/11 anniversary was coming up, although there is no evidence such a survey exists.
"I opened my restaurant on the most tragic day of my life—9/11 was just a very tragic day for our country. It was very somber and it's become a sacred day for all of us."
what if we kissed😳at the 9/11 bar? haha just kidding unless 😏... https://t.co/yckysM7wrh— Hunter Biden's laptop repair guy (@Hunter Biden's laptop repair guy) 1621448809.0
I just don't think something like this would ever happen in any other country https://t.co/LxMJ0HpAVp— every e-scooter is a policy failure (@every e-scooter is a policy failure) 1621448423.0
America, are you okay? Canada is worried about you. https://t.co/q00eZtbeUg— Myrna 🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️ (@Myrna 🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️) 1621446623.0
God I can only imagine how bomb the themed drinks are https://t.co/gPdfr3UA0Q— 𝖌 𝖗 𝖔 𝖌 ✂️ (@𝖌 𝖗 𝖔 𝖌 ✂️) 1621453841.0
Johnson had no feelings about naysayers on Twitter, saying ''the only people who say that are people who don't know me and are not from Fort Worth.''
Nevertheless, it stands as a strange yet perfect encapsulation of USA culture.