Southern Comfort hopes to reopen tomorrow

The loyal Southern Comfort patrons who spent the weekend crying into their beers after word got out that the Conley honky-tonk would close its doors will likely get an early Christmas present.

The bar and restaurant is closed today, but manager Misty Justice confirmed that a buyer is set to sign papers to assume control of the business. If all goes as planned, Southern Comfort will be up and running tomorrow, she said.

That'll be good news to the hundreds who showed up to the bar's storied Sunday karaoke night to show their support. According to a posting on Facebook from Tommy Lee, who runs the weekly event, more than 400 people came out and Southern Comfort "sold all the alcohol in the bar."

Justice said the response from customers "has been overwhelming."

George F. Jones has owned the the establishment -- one of the last honky-tonk pit stops in the U.S. -- since 1989, but sold it as part of a lease agreement to another owner several years ago. He re-assumed ownership in 2014, according to Justice.