Rotgut.org Blog

Saturday, June 17, 2017

#2533 - Maxwell House Restaurant, Spokane, WA - 5/24/2014

Maxwell House Restaurant and Bar
Spokane, WA

The Maxwell House Beer Parlor / Tavern / Restaurant has been here since 1934. It feels old-school in many ways -- "old" being perhaps the 70s more than any other era -- with the Bud Lite lamps, the carpet running up the side of the front bar, the faux brick and the brass hinting fern bar. Rather unexpectedly the side door doesn't open to some back alley smoking area but rather a spacious, sandy volleyball court. Inside the restaurant menu is something like a mid-century, family steakhouse, with prime rib and lobster tail, and the bar serves typical dive bar cocktails and beers.

1425 N Ash St, Spokane, WA 99201 - (509) 326-6890
Est. 1934
Web site: facebook
Reviews: yelp - tripadvisor - roadtrippers

Thursday, June 15, 2017

#2532 - Checkerboard Bar, Spokane, WA - 5/24/2014

Checkboard Bar, Spokane, WA

The Checkboard Bar is a nifty little dive that appears to have been a favorite neighborhood joint for decades, become increasingly more sketchy for many years (along with this area of town), and then been considerably refurbished under new owners in 2010. Before the new ownership, the bar closed at 7pm and did not contain a public bathroom. It was then a beer only tavern, and indeed, claims to have the longest continuous liquor license in the state of Washington. Joe Heaton purchased the place in 1937 and ran it for over 50 years, becoming what locals described as the "best loved bartender in town."

The bar today has been upgraded and at least a little bit hipsterized. It now includes craft beers, hard liquor, better food, and, yes, a public bathroom. And yet we were informed by our bartender Rachel that they serve only doubles, for $3.50, and using good wells.

I would love to have more info on the early history of the place. There are a few reasons to question the oldest continuous license story. To begin with, these claims are not uncommon across older bars across the state, and they are very difficult to document -- e.g. age of licenses is not tracked by the state liquor board, and verifying virtually anything has been "continuous" across 84 years is dicey (a bartender at Maxwell House told me he knows periods when the Checkerboard has been closed). And I've been unable to find the Checkerboard or any bar listed at this address in any primary sources before 1937 -- e.g. it is not in the 1934 Spokane Polk directory, nor in the 1935 telephone directory.

But in any case it definitely has a lot of history behind it and is a nice joint for a drink.

1716 E Sprague Ave, Spokane, WA 99202 - (509) 535-4007
Est. 1933 - Building constructed: 1928
Previous bars in this location: None
Web site: checkerboardbar.com - facebook
Reviews: spokanedivebars - inlander - yelp - cityvoter

Saturday, June 10, 2017

#2531 - Bubba's Bar and Grill, Reardan, WA - 5/24/2014

Like many central Washington towns, Reardan is defined by a railway stop and grain towers. The Central Washington Railroad line laid in 1888 was first used for transporting cattle, but the livestock increasingly gave way to barley and the wheat transfered through the looming towers, and which remains the area's largest crop today. (historylink)

The small set of buildings in the shadows of those towers includes the 1905 Stevenson Building, originally home to the town's first bank, and subsequently hosting a variety of businsesses, including, for over 25 years, a tavern and card room called Bonstrom's Place. Since 2006 it has hosted Bubba's Bar and Grill, a laid back tavern named for the owner's dog (which is depicted in the sign) and valued for its burgers, cold beers, and general divey goodness. The exterior features painted cartoon cowboys and the woody interior includes vintage murals of nature scenes.

Bubba's Bar & Grill, Reardan, WA

245 E Broadway Ave, Reardan, WA 99029 - (509) 796-2640 ;
Est. 2006 - Building constructed: 1905
Previous bars in this location: Bonstrom's Place
Web site: facebook
Reviews: yelp - tripadvisor - roadtrippers

#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

Wednesday, June 07, 2017

#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.