Rotgut.org Blog: #2597 - La Center Tavern, La Center WA

Monday, December 25, 2017

#2597 - La Center Tavern, La Center WA - 8/23/2014

La Center Tavern, La Center, WA

Update: The La Center Tavern was renamed "4th Street Bar and Grill" in early 2015.

I'm sure that the current La Center Tavern has nicer drinks than a few years ago and has nicer food than a few years ago, and it may be more welcomed by a majority of the locals. But for fans of old historical places with lots of character, this is a travesty.

A real estate entry claims that this space has hosted a bar since 1914 (I've found La Center bars in city directories dating back to the 1880s, but they do not contain addresses). But the character promised by a few remaining shots of the old west style former exterior evaporates as you walk in the door. The nice back bar is still there -- it is said to have survived a big fire that destroyed most of the town, but most the decor is like a retirement home cafeteria, with ceramic chickens and all new furniture designed to look old timey. The liquors are confined to a dainty selection of spirits that lean toward flavored vodkas and fireball shots. The jolt from the knitting club theme comes only when you open the bathroom and suddenly seem to be doing your business in the back of semi truck. I can't imagine they will leave that very long -- they're probably shopping for the pink flowered wallpaper now.

What the what?!?!
La Center Tavern, La Center, WA

And yet outside there was a local spitting chaw into a cup and telling me the history of the back bar. He says a biker friend of his told him it was usually packed before the remodel. I don't know whether to believe any of these stories, and, God bless, I wish the current owners luck. But it's not my personal cup of tea, despite some old photos that make me think it used to be.