#2530 - Chief's Bar and Grill, Odessa, WA - 5/24/2014

Chief's Bar and Grill, Odessa, WA

"Odessa's only full service restaurant & lounge. Serves breakfast, lunch, & dinner. We serve steak, shrimp, burgers, pizza, sandwiches and more."

In the late 19th century the Odessa area was settled primarily by Germans who had lived along the Black Sea and Volga River, a heritage now celebrated in the Odessa Deutschesfest each third week of September. The town was incorporated in 1902, quickly grew to around 1,000 people, and has hoved closed to that number ever since.

Chief's Bar and Grill, Odessa, WA

I don't know how long Chief's Bar & Grill has been in Odessa -- It doesn't appear in directories from a few decades ago, but it's pleasantly worn and broken wooden sign indicates that it's been here at least a few years. In the front is a classic, small-town, family diner, and in back a brightly lit lounge that remains open on certain days until 10 or 11pm.

Odessa note: For many years, from at least the 50s until 2007, Odessa was one of the at least 60 Washington state cities and towns with a bar named the "Pastime." In 2007 this was renamed the Rolling Thunder Saloon, which operated until 2012. It was replaced by an art gallery that eventually started to also sell pizzas, and appears to have a sign from the old Pastime inside.

17 E 1st Ave, Odessa, WA 99159 - (509) 982-2999                        
Web site: facebook
Reviews: yelp - tripadvisor

#2529 - Soap Lake Business Man's Club, Soap Lake, WA - 5/23/2014

Soap Lake Businss Men's Club, Soap Lake, WA

Online sources indicate this place is now closed, which would be a shame, for the city, for the local members, and the broad membership around the country. The Club was private, but as I recall membership was something like $15 -- and the annual salmon feed was free to members, $20 for others. We were got around to becoming members, but we did have a couple drinks there as the guests of local Linda.

Trista with our host Linda, who signed us in at the
Soap Lake Business Men's Club

17 E 1st Ave, Odessa, WA 99159 - (509) 982-2999
Web site: facebook
Reviews: untappd

#2528 - Del-Red Tavern, Soap Lake, WA - 5/23/2014

Del-Red Pub, Soap Lake, WA

I've found the Del-Red Tavern listed at 6 different addresses on the same street in Soap Lake, and  I suspect at least three of those addresses are typos. But it appears to have been at the corner of Main and Daisy (400 Main Ave E) from at least the early 50s to early 70s. Then it seems to have moved across the street from its current location in the 80s and 90s (310 E Main), and now at 311 E Main. (If anybody can help me fill in the details here, please drop me a line.)

The foamy, meromictic soda waters of Soap Lake have been attracting white visitors to this area for over a century, and the previous natives for several centuries before that. It is prized for its purported healing powers, and said to have "the highest diverse mineral content of any body of water on the planet," (Wikipedia) leading the city to bill itself as "Washington's health resort." Unfortunately, plans to attract even more tourists with a 60' high, 52,000 lb, lava lamp have never reach fruition.

There are three bars in Soap Lake, one a private club, and the Del-Red is the most straightforward, with diner/pub comfort foods, dive bar cocktails, a decent beer selection, karaoke, and occasional live music.

311 Main Ave E, Soap Lake, WA 98851 - (509) 246-1867
Web site: facebook
Reviews: yelp - columbiabasinherald - tripadvisor

#2527 - Tikis Bar and Grill, Quincy, WA - 5/23/2014

Ashley, Tikis Bar & Grill, Quincy, WA

Quincy Washington's "Tiki's Bar and Grill," AKA "Tikis Family Restaurant & Sports Bar," is not about to impress anyone who cares about tiki or tiki bars. But it's a fun place if you just let it be -- consider it something like a buddy's basement, with loud and laughing people, Mexicans singing to the jukebox, and Ashley the friendly bartender making sure your liquid requirements are not ignored.

Tikis Bar and Grill, AKA Tikis Family Restaurant & Sports Bar
Quincy, WA

812 Ctrl Ave S, Quincy, WA 98848 - (509) 797-7362
Web site: facebook
Reviews: yelp - tripadvisor

#2526 - Idle Hour Cafe, Quincy, WA - 5/23/2014

The Idle Hour, Quincy, WA

The building hosting the Idle Hour Eatery and Spirits AKA "Idle Hour Cafe and Steakhouse" was constructed in 1906 a block west of its current location. "John Heuther purchased the building in 1906 and in 1910 he moved it a block down the street. In 1917, E.A. Niblack converted it to Bob Seale's Pastime Pool. He added an ice cream parlor in 1919 because of Prohibition. After that era, it became known as the Spud Shed. Today it is the Idle Hour Cafe and Steakhouse, owned by Gene and Rhonda Rosenberger." (Elizabeth Gibson, Grant County, Images of America)

In the 1960s it was listed as "Cliff's Tavern," and it appears to have been named the "Spud Shed" when Henry and Louise Grant purchased it in 1977. In 1985 it appears to have been renamed back to the "Idle Hour" by the owners who retain it today, Gene "Rosy" Rosenberger and Rhonda Rosenberger, and was heavily remodeled in 2014. Although the interior shows few vestiges of its antiquity, the modern version offers a strong wine list, steaks, and American comfort foods.

The Idle Hour Saloon, 1910, in process of being moved up the street
(Photo via Wenatchee World)

Remolded in 2014 for a more causal atmosphere for people to enjoy fine food and beverages. We feature Northwest Ales on Tap and wines from our local wineries. Hand made burgers, special sandwiches created for your pleasure, sandwiches, steaks, seafood, soup, creative salads and more


18 B St SE, Quincy, WA 98848 - (509) 787-3714                 
Est. 1985 - Building constructed: 1906 (moved to current location 1910)
Previous bars in this location: Idle Hour Saloon (pre-prohibition); Cliff's Tavern (1960s), Spud Shed Tavern (70s-80s)
Web site: facebook
Reviews: yelp - tripadvisor

#2525 - Timeout Saloon, Kittatas, WA - 5/23/2014

The TimeOut Saloon, Kittitas, WA

The TimeOut Saloon was founded in 1987 by Bob and Rochelle McCollum, who ran it for about 20 years. They sold the place in 2010, Bob passed away that same year, and Rochelle died two years later. However shortly after it was sold it returned to the ownership of the family, whereupon it was run by Bob and Rochell's daughter Jennifer Johnson, along with a number of family members.

We were told by Hannah that the building is about 33 years old, but Jennifer has said that there have been bars in this location since immediately after prohibition -- "“It was the Tumbleweed, before that it was Kelly’s Bar."

The current exterior of rustic wood with a hatchet door handle is quite different from the brick and stucco appearance in Michael Caldwell's 1994 "Watering Holes of the Northwest." It's a large, clean place, with a sizable gravel patio out back and cable spool tables. The menu is mostly traditional American comfort foods, with prime rib and taco specials. The inner decor doesn't adhere to one theme, but includes homey touches like an old standup piano, pool trophies, and a quilt featuring photos of vintage cars. It feels like the family-owned place that it is, and like a substantial social locus for people of the area.

101 Main St, Kittitas, WA 98934 - (509) 968-9111
Est. 1987
Previous bars in this location: Tumbleweed, Kelly's Bar
Web site: facebook
Reviews: dailyrecordnews - yelp - tripadvisor

#2524 - Bill's Place, Yakima, WA - 5/23/2014

Bill's Place, Yakima, WA

Bill's Place is said to have been established in 1933, soon after prohibition, and to have been in the current building since 1943. I spoke with Steve, the current owner's son, who explained that the original building was in the current parking lot until a boiler explosion in 1942. For some reason the bar does not appear in Polk guides of the 30s in 40s that I have data for, and tax records indicate that the current building was constructed in 1948.

Today Bill's calls itself "Yakima's favorite dive bar," although it is less divey than it is a typical, contemporary, neighborhood bar, with 20 rotating brews on tap, sports on the TVs, a fairly standard pub menu, live music, and a simple but classic neon sign out front.

206 S 3rd Ave, Yakima, WA 98902 - (509) 575-9513
Est. 1943 (current building), 1933 - Building constructed: 1948
Web site: billsplacetav.com - facebook
Reviews: yakimaherald - yelp