A Woman at the Helm: Kristian Martinez’s Vision for The Dean’s List

A Woman at the Helm: Kristian Martinez’s Vision for The Dean’s List

LUBBOCK, Texas — Kristian Martinez opened The Dean’s List with a vision for a bar where students and professionals could feel equally at home, and where the nostalgia of The Library would still have a place.

As the owner of the Depot District bar at 1701 Texas Ave., Martinez is bringing her own ideas to the former Library Bar location, combining a familiar piece of Lubbock nightlife with plans for new memories.

Her ownership brings a woman’s voice to the decisions that shape a local nightlife business. Bar and nightclub ownership has historically leaned male, a gap highlighted by the Responsible Hospitality Institute in its work on designing nightlife for women. At The Dean’s List, Martinez helps determine the atmosphere, entertainment and direction.

When The806er asked why she opened the bar, her answer began with the balance she wanted to strike between personality, comfort and nostalgia.

“I wanted to bring something nice, eccentric, somewhat elevated but still maintain The Library nostalgia,” Martinez said.

The Library was known for affordable drinks, pool tables and a college crowd. The Dean’s List carries forward the academic theme, while Martinez’s vision includes professionals looking for a comfortable place to unwind.

“I want The Dean’s List to be a place people can hang out, play pool, listen to music, have live DJ’s and live music entertainment,” she said.

The bar’s public profile highlights pool tables and cocktails, fitting the mix of recreation and socializing she describes. Her vision also leaves room for different kinds of evenings, whether customers want to catch up with friends or gather for music and entertainment.

Martinez’s explanation takes a personal turn when she talks about what those nights might mean to the people spending them there.

“A place to make memories, start new traditions with your friends, meet the love of your life or get over your ex,” she said.

That sense of connection runs through her plans for the business. She wants people to have somewhere to celebrate, decompress and enjoy each other’s company, with affordability and a relaxed atmosphere built into the experience.

“A place for college and professionals alike,” Martinez said. “Clean and affordable with a chill atmosphere, space to relax and enjoy life.”

The spacious bar also offers private party rentals, giving groups an option to make the venue part of their own celebrations. Those rentals add another use for a location Martinez sees as having room to grow.

For the woman leading The Dean’s List, preserving the connection to Lubbock’s past is part of giving the bar its future. Her goal is to welcome new traditions while retaining something familiar for people who remember The Library.

“I believe The Dean’s List brings something special to Lubbock and keeps a part of Lubbock history,” Martinez said.