Bar owner to continue no-cost taxi service

Dawg Houze owner Chad Heflin said he will continue to keep his bar's taxi service free of charge because it's his way of giving back to the community.

He originally planned to charge for the Dawg Houze transportation when he began operating the service in late April but decided charging patrons isn't worth the hassle.

According to Heflin, the Dawg Houze taxi conducts about 25 trips a night when Eastern New Mexico University is in session and about half of that when school is out based on weekly taxi logs.

He said looking at the costs and paperwork involved with the taxi service, he decided to make the taxi an expense.

"Overall it's helped the bar's reputation showing that we care about the community," said Heflin, a native of Portales.

Heflin plans to continue to provide the service for free indefinitely to the Portales area and Cannon Air Force Base.

"It's an expense but in the long haul, it's worth it," Heflin said.

He said he met with Cannon officials Monday and spoke with airmen who want to help promote the taxi service on base.

Other feedback he has received about the taxi has been positive from the community, even from those who don't go to the bar, according to Heflin.

"It was my way of giving back to the community," Heflin said. "It's the best thing I've done for my company the last three years."

Elliott Fite, director of promotions for the Dawg Houze, said he and Heflin travel to other bars in New Mexico and surrounding states and get ideas on how to improve business.

In addition to a lack of transportation service to local bars, Fite said the risk of drinking while intoxicated also inspired the start of the taxi service.

"The DWI issue is big in New Mexico," Fite said. He added that people who drink and drive put a lot on the line, including lives and their career.

"I've seen people not risk (drinking and driving), and that was the whole point of the taxi," Heflin said. "Riders can get to the bar and home and not worry about transportation."

Heflin's hoping in the next two years to get another taxi that would run to and from Cannon.

He's also welcomes the idea of letting other businesses put ads on the taxi, but for now, he's content with how the taxi service is running

"(The taxi) was worth it to (Heflin)," Fite said. "It's been great for the bar and great for the customers. People want to be responsible drinkers."