Evan and sally batt
Back in 1874 when Arthur O’Shaughnessy introduced the idea of movers and shakers in his poem Ode , he was referring to poets and musicians…the “influencers” of his age. He labelled his creative peers movers and shakers because they “shook” the foundations of conventional thinking thanks to their vision and imagination.
Ask any regular at Lockwood Distilling Co. whether Sally and Evan Batt fit the description and you’ll likely be regaled with tall tales about Evan’s shenanigans and hear unbridled enthusiasm for Sally. No matter which person you ask at Lockwood, customer or team member, the story is the same: “nicest people ever,” “loads of fun,” “never met a stranger.”
So how did a couple of kids from Texas A&M who met on a Pi Kappa Phi Date Party bus ride to New Orleans become worthy of such admiration? It’s a great story. Sally and Evan’s journey literally began on that bus. Both had gone to the party with other dates—strictly friends, they both assured me—but quickly just clicked. Sally says she “fell in love with Evan Batt on that bus ride and never looked back.” The trip was so special that Evan ended up proposing to Sally in New Orleans. Henry Lee Tennessee was their New Orleans taxi driver for almost twelve years and is immortalized in a massive painting hanging on their living room wall.
The “Big Easy” became a regular destination for the Batts and still inspires their business decisions twenty years later. Why? The answer lies in what Evan and Sally enjoy so much about New Orleans. They love the Louisiana hot spot for its funky vibe and friendly people. They love the live music and constant energy. And they love the way New Orleans welcomes folks of all generations. There’s something for everyone in NOLA. Lockwood feels like that. 90-year-olds and 20-year-olds both want to host their birthday parties there!
Just ask regulars Ashley and Janeye. The two friends are Lockwood’s selfproclaimed Very. First. Customers. And talking to them about Lockwood is like talking to the Batts about New Orleans. The two friends consider Lockwood to be a “home away from home.” When the signs went up that Lockwood was having a soft opening, Ashley says they “peeled out of the driveway to go give it a try.” She remembers, “From that first night, walking into Lockwood felt like walking into the living room at your best friend’s house. Evan and Sally make everyone feel at home and important,” a sentiment echoed later by Big Tony.
Big Tony, as he is known to everyone, works at Lockwood. He doesn’t have an official title—or at least he says he doesn’t. When asked what his role is at the distillery, he replies, “Great question! No one really knows but we all know I’m super important to the brand and instrumental in keeping the party going!” And that’s what it’s like to work with Evan and Sally. Imagine your best weekend in New Orleans happening right here in Richardson. That’s the vibe the couple has created. Says Big Tony, “Sally has a smile and attitude that won’t let you have a bad day. She is also extremely smart and an amazing mother. Evan is driven with a laser-like focus; he wants the best out of you and won’t accept anything less! I can honestly say I don’t know where I would be without the Batts and I’m not the only person who can make that statement.”
It wasn’t always as easy as the Richardson business owners make it look. The pandemic tested the Batts. Bars and restaurants began failing once COVID turned the world upside down. But instead of throwing in the towel, Evan and Sally kept Lockwood open and started making hand sanitizer. Hundreds of gallons of it. And donating 400 gallons to the Richardson Police and Fire departments not because someone asked them to, but because that’s simply who they are. They also delivered meals to nurses on the COVID front lines.
As scary as that time was for small business owners throughout Richardson, the Batts never even considered closing their doors… they had too many people depending on them. They wanted to keep their team earning a living during COVID and that reality, according to Evan, was stressful but motivating.
The couple decided the best way forward would be to thrive, not just survive, and that creating a culture of positivity would be the key to their success. People were scared.
They were stuck in their homes and missing the camaraderie of others. So the Batts brought live music to Lockwood’s front porch and hosted parking lot concerts in the middle of a pandemic. Customers brought chairs and blankets and their dogs and their kids and sat outside a safe distance from one other and began to feel alive again. According to Sally, Lockwood was the only venue with musicians playing live during COVID.
Once the crowd grew from a handful to a parking lot full, the serving staff needed a way to quickly find their customers. So Sally sent out a request for trophy donations. The next thing customers knew, they were being handed a 1st place t-ball trophy or a cheerleading trophy from 1973 with a number on top as a means of identification. The ease in which the
Batts ingeniously pivoted during the pandemic built confidence within the community and earned their customers’ and employees’ devotion. Says Sally, “We found our identity as a company during COVID. We got stronger and decided that joy was a necessity, so we created a culture of positivity at Lockwood.”
Once the pandemic ended, the couple had to convert the dining room back to an indoor restaurant and event space. During lockdown, Evan had turned the interior of Lockwood into a warehouse for their many house made creations while the doors were literally closed to the public. It was filled with boxes and bottles and packing supplies. So they pivoted once again. They expanded distribution into the empty space next door and opened the doors once again. They kept live music on the patio Thursday-Sunday but welcomed folks inside for the first time in two years.
Given how busy the Batts are running a successful Richardson business, one might wonder if their kids Jane and Russ ever see them. Not only do they see them, but they inspire them! Evan and Sally have passed down their love of community and festive spirit to the next generation of Batts. Daughter Jane calls it “the Batt Brand.” When thinking about what it means to be a Batt, she responds,
“Being a Batt is exciting and fun and we stick together. And I love everyone… even my brother.” That’s high praise coming from a nine-year-old!
The Batts prioritize family above all else. And they don’t just have fun…they create it! Their Christmas cards are the stuff of legends and the kids come up with the ideas. Last year’s card was inspired by the Savannah Bananas, a travelling baseball team the kids love. And every five years, Evan and Sally get married again…not really, but they celebrate by renewing their vows. At five years, they went to New Orleans, at ten to Charleston. For their fifteenth anniversary, the celebration was local. Said Big Tony, “The Batts decided they wanted to have something fun, funky and downright silly to celebrate their fifteenth wedding anniversary and I was lucky enough to preside over the renewal ceremony. It was a BLAST!” Big Tony loves the Batts so much that he got ordained just for the “Denim and Diamonds” themed event.
Evan and Sally have made all the smart business moves in Richardson. They diversified during hard times. They work closely with the City and make it a priority to support other local businesses. They joined the Chamber of Commerce and Sally serves on the Chamber board. She was a member of Leadership Richardson Class 35. They’ve supported a variety of charitable causes, even hosting a spin class in the parking lot of Lockwood to raise money for ovarian cancer research. But their greatest contribution to Richardson is the community they have created at Lockwood and the joy they spread every day just being Batts.