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favorite tavern
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newsnot
222 posts
Jan 14, 2011
12:48 PM
what was or is your favorite tavern on the east side of dayton?
icsalum
59 posts
Jan 17, 2011
7:20 PM
Old Harrigans on Far Hills - near Dorothy Lane.
delcodude
79 posts
Jan 23, 2011
8:09 AM
Slyder's on Watervaliet
Tank's on Wayne
Cadillac Jack's on Smithville

Last Edited by on Jan 23, 2011 8:13 AM
jfox68
2 posts
Jan 26, 2011
9:20 AM
Does anyone else remember Rudy's Tavern or Carl's Tavern? Both were off of Wyoming. I also remember Kelly's bar on Wyoming. My Dad took me there when I was a kid to watch a Red's game on a color television.
Perry401
11 posts
Feb 21, 2011
10:33 PM
Yellow Springs was a hip or maybe I should say a hippie town in the late 1960's and early 1970's. Everyone in town knew everyone else. Not everyone was a hippy, but those who were not were at least tolerant of the hippies and other free thinkers. In fact, about half the people who lived in Yellow Springs were employeed at Wright Patterson Air Force Base.

The town was safe and compact enough that Most people walked from their homes to downtown Yellow Springs. There were no leash laws and dogs wandered the streets, but never bothering anybody and never got into fights with each other. There were even communal bicicles which people would ride from where they were to where they were going, then simply leave unsecured at their destination. Someone else would then grab that bike to ride someplace else.

One of the places everyone knew about was The Trail Tavern. It was a cool place to get good "real" food cheap. None of that health food stuff like sprouts or tofu yogurt here. Just plain old fashioned American food, like my favorite, the spaghetti and meatballs dinner -- a plate of spagetti with two meatballs the size of tennis balls covered with tomatoe sauce and cheese and freshly baked bread.

They also sold beer and wine, but I don't think they had hard liquor at the time. A dinner was only a couple of dollars, and Bottled beers were 50 cents in the early 1970's. Service was always great. I took more than one lady here on a cheap date for dinner before a movie at the "Little Art Theater", right across the street. Later I dated one of the waitresses who got me my meals for free -- an even cheaper date. The tavern at the time consisted of the front room with the bar, and a tiny back dining room with low ceilings and a sloping floor. The walls and ceiling were dark exposed wood logs, and the lighting was minimal. With most of the light from a candle on the table, things could be pretty romantic.

I have no idea of how old the Trail Tavern was, or if the log cabin it ocupies was built as a tavern or was originally a house and later changed into what we now know as the Trail Tavern. In any event, based only on the age of the building, it certainly is one of the oldest taverns in our area. The tables and bench seats at the time were very old and rickety, just what you would expect in a log cabin. The dining room could hold maybe 35 people at most. The bar in front maybe another 15.

At some point, perhaps in the 1980's, they enlarged the tavern, added a room to it, added outdoor seating, and basically ruined it by making it into a tourist attraction. The tavern has lost most of it's original charm. The last time I was there service was awful and the food had changed to some sort of trendy menu with few "real" meals. As far as I know, it is still opened.

Last Edited by on Feb 21, 2011 10:33 PM
AllenN71
151 posts
Feb 22, 2011
1:26 PM
Gee, I left town at 18 and prior to that I never was taken into any taprooms by any of my parents. There was Bob's Tavern in Huber where on a dare I got served at age 16 (where two of my friends had failed, because they ordered the dead-giveaway "seven and seven" and "sloe gin fizz" drinks. I ordered - not a run coke, but a "Cuba Libre" and was savvy enough when the tender asked me if I wanted it with lime to ask him how long he had been tending bar.) Bob is dead now, and the place is now called "Bob's Gone Saloon". And darn it, they were fresh out of t-shirts last time I was in town.
bigbob
133 posts
Feb 23, 2011
6:13 AM
Did anyone go to the Glass Crutch in Huber. That was my favorite watering hole.
Buster
3 posts
Mar 10, 2011
6:28 PM
Grill's Tavern, 4949 N. Union Road.
Koogie57
2 posts
Mar 21, 2011
6:26 PM
Maxed Out - I ate in the A&A Bar and Grill everyday and threw my darts there after work. I remember well the DP&L meter readers doing their books there and some pole climbers went there also, until someone complained about you all being in the bar.
V V
2 posts
Mar 23, 2011
2:53 PM
I remember Glass crutch ( all the gm men were there)LOL the shed wasn't that on Brown? I see no old timers remember Chris' Band box on e 3rd? how about Livingroom (b4 it was a strip club) and my Fav Leisure Lady on N. Dixie. drinks tues nites .25 yup 25 cents
jfox68
11 posts
Mar 24, 2011
5:02 AM
VV, I remember Chris's Band Box. I was in the Army reserve with Chris and bowled in leagues with him years ago. Didn't the Leisure Lady become the Big Apple? They used to sponser our bowling team at Pastime Lanes.
clamper
7 posts
Mar 24, 2011
7:10 AM
The Shed, just off the U of D campus...I was a bouncer/waiter/bartender there
FAITH
26 posts
Mar 24, 2011
8:33 AM
VV, I'm not an old timer, but I remember as a child, whenever my concerned parents couldn't find a certain aunt, we'd drive down to the Band Box and dad would go in and "escort" her safely home. That was fun to remember! :)
FAITH
27 posts
Mar 24, 2011
11:52 AM
Mikey, where was Clancy's? That was my neck of the woods until '73, but don't recall that place. I remember my dad stopping in at Jimbo's for a beer after work from time to time. That was in the shopping center on the southwest side of Spinning & Burkhart.
V V
3 posts
Mar 24, 2011
4:44 PM
jfox68, than I have to know you. I'm Chris' Wife.Did u go to desert storm w them? did you bowl big ball or the bar team on the machines?
& Faith, I've heard plenty stories bout always findin grama, grampa or aunts in the box. lol.We do have a long line of unique and loyal customers :)
V V
4 posts
Mar 24, 2011
4:44 PM
jfox68, than I have to know you. I'm Chris' Wife.Did u go to desert storm w them? did you bowl big ball or the bar team on the machines?
& Faith, I've heard plenty stories bout always findin grama, grampa or aunts in the box. lol.We do have a long line of unique and loyal customers :)
cilla46
40 posts
Mar 25, 2011
10:01 AM
Anyone remember the Melody Pine at the corner of Richard St. and Pritz Ave.? We used to go there and listen to a band named "Howard and the Darts". I was only 15 but somehow my older brother always managed to get me in.I wasn't allowed to drink anything but I still had a great time!
driver62
365 posts
Mar 26, 2011
7:10 AM
There was a tavern on the east side of Salem just north of Catalpa back in the 70's. I went there several times as I lived only 2 blocks away. Does anyone remember the name?
oldrndirt
1 post
Mar 26, 2011
8:49 PM
marty - had my first legal drink at Max & Erma's near the Dayton Mall - still have the swizzle stick 35 years later. :-)

Was a Shed denizen for many years, started when I was working a co-op job at Rike's Warehouse across the river and we'd go there on payday (waaay underage) and continued when I was a college student and for a few years afterward. Not bad pizza, generous pitchers, and loved the stuffed dog by the fireplace.

Iron Boar on Patterson was another favorite and spent more than a few evenings at the old Fountainhead on Linden by Eastown.
V V
5 posts
Mar 28, 2011
2:42 PM
jfox, Chris remembers you He said hi. and hey we still have the fish fry it at the IUE hall on woodman just did it feb this yr. take care
lonebear
4 posts
Mar 28, 2011
6:31 PM
You would have to ask this question. First, I have to say I was a frequent patron at the Shed, Timothy's, Moonlight, worked as bartender, bouncer, door checker at the Mare's Head & Pooki Pooki in Huber, Mermaid, another called the 2800 Club I think, it was a VFW or something, and a number of other places I can't recall the names of. My favorite was Pappy's Place on 5th (?) when Smitty owned it, and was the bartender there. Nice family/neighborhood bar with no trouble, and always had a great time there.
BubbaLuv
27 posts
Mar 29, 2011
6:35 PM
although I never drank (looks up for lighting striking) my favorite place back when was frogs on shoupmill at N main st. Sunday was the funniest night cause no bars north of town back then had a sunday Liq licence. my friends and I had a group we called the Party Warriors
delcodude
105 posts
Mar 30, 2011
12:30 PM
Matt, the owner and tender of "Mary's" BandBox on East 3rd St was shot and killed at the bar in the mid 60s. Mary, Matt's widow, took over the bar for some time thereafter.
A bunch of us 'Delcolites' used to h/o at the Library Lounge when it was next to the bank on the west side of Woodman Dr. The wallpaper was very library'esque', do you recall?
Clancy's Tavern isn't part of the old Spin-Kemp shopping center, as Jimbo's (McGuffey's HoD) was. Clancy's is across Spinning Rd, next to Kroger..
CLee
10 posts
Apr 05, 2011
10:16 AM
My spelling is almost as bad as my memory, but I'm 62 years old.
Mom Minnix on Linden Avenue in the early 70's.
delcodude
113 posts
Apr 05, 2011
8:48 PM
CLee

I don't remember that one. From 3rd St., the Triangle, V&W, Glass Hat(close to Linden) the Dugout, Kramers(Irving address), Pat's, Toby's and the Shipwreck are the ones I recall in the 70s on Linden.

Dang, I'm thirsty now...
CLee
11 posts
Apr 06, 2011
8:28 AM
delcodude

It was way further up on Linden.Past Livingston, not as far as Smithville, tho--I think the sign probably just said Minnix and we nicknamed it Moms. I remember my cousin used to drive in from Trotwood and party with me. The 70s were a fuzzy time for me. Well--now days yesterday is a fuzzy time for me--but now its my age.
delcodude
114 posts
Apr 06, 2011
9:38 AM
CLee

The Double Play was at the top of Lorain Ave., right past the Dugout and a block before Kramers. I'd guess Minnix' was between Kramers and Smithville.
I remember another place that had a long canvas awning on the front. It was on the south side of Linden, very near Smithville (?)..
FAITH
31 posts
Apr 06, 2011
9:43 AM
Can anyone tell me anything about Hi Lees? I'm supposing it was in E Dayton, as my folks used to talk about taking me there as a baby. Dad had shot glasses from there when we boxed up his house. Would just like to know more about it since it was a favorite of my parents.
delcodude
116 posts
Apr 06, 2011
9:50 AM
FAITH

HiLees was on 2nd and Irwin, near Washington School. Owned by the same man that owned Marples Bar in the 2000 block of E. 3rd. It was a neighborhood bar as Connells and the Band Box were/are..

You're welcome FAITH
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

Last Edited by on Apr 08, 2011 10:20 AM
FAITH
32 posts
Apr 07, 2011
10:17 AM
Thanks delcodude- that really helps me put a few more pieces in place!
roge
105 posts
Apr 08, 2011
2:58 PM
HI Donw,there was a bar known as Paul's Cafe on the southwest corner of Third and Bell Street in East Dayton,it was what they call a piano bar which closed sometime in the 70's
delcodude
118 posts
Apr 08, 2011
4:57 PM
Hi Roge & DonW

Sounds like Paul's was just east of Winters Bank and just west of Vic & Mom's Pizza King. I have no idea of the landscape in the '40s though. And, nearly across the street from the Alhambra movie theatre. I don't remember it. Martin's and the V-Bar are the only ones near there that I recall.
barry56
2 posts
Apr 09, 2011
2:57 PM
i remeber it as lindas band box when i went there but they never had a band didnt she also have lindas roadhouse?one of my favs but not on the east side was the SHE.sunday night drink and drown 3-2 beers wouldnt get you drunk but sure kept the kindeys cleaned out also the jammer was in the same shopping center
DebCB
52 posts
Apr 09, 2011
3:41 PM
hunt69....I also have not heard the term 3.2 for beer in a long time. I remember when my sister was about 17 and I was 11, she would ask my Dad for permission to go out with her friends on the weekend and my Dad wasn't comfortable with some of the places, so she would say Ah Dad, they'll only have 3.2 beer there and we don't drink anyway and he would usually say OK.
But the funny thing that I remember was I thought she was saying 3 Toot beer and I thought that was a very funny name for beer.
roge
107 posts
Apr 09, 2011
5:38 PM
Does anybody remember Steve's Cafe there at First and Sachs Street about one block west of Finley Street ? They feateued cabbage rolls and a good steak sandwich with entertainment on Saturday nights
barry1956
1 post
Apr 09, 2011
11:19 PM

Last Edited by on Apr 10, 2011 11:14 AM
delcodude
124 posts
Apr 11, 2011
3:46 PM
Not my favorite, nor close, but anyone remember the Hande Bar on the corner of Woodman Dr and Patterson? CVS sits there now. It was a very old building. The floors creaked so bad that the billiard balls would move when you walked around the pool table. I remember one night racking a set, lifted the rack and they all ran to the rail. Hilarious..
oldrndirt
6 posts
Apr 11, 2011
3:56 PM
There was a place, I believe it was called Quiggs, on Dorothy Ln at Wilmington Pk that had a bunch of backgammon boards - an old school buddy of mine and I used to meet there about once a week and drink Beck's, eat free popcorn and play game after game of backgammon.
delcodude
126 posts
Apr 11, 2011
4:55 PM
The Quigs I know is across from old Rike's Kettering on Dorothy Ln., on the side of the building. Great subs, very similar to Milano's subs. Pretty much a Delco bar in the day.
cilla46
44 posts
Apr 12, 2011
6:23 PM
My first bartending job was at Vito's Venice Inn almost next door to Quig's.It was a pretty cool place.My older brother used to hang out there.
steve7777
1 post
Apr 12, 2011
7:37 PM
hunt69 I had just pulled in the white sands parking lot to shoot pool at the Picnic Billiards (picnic?) when the shooter drove off! I remember people referring to him as fairborn junior?
steve7777
2 posts
Apr 12, 2011
7:39 PM
Anyone ever go to the Union Depot?
steve7777
5 posts
Apr 13, 2011
1:18 PM
hunt69 I just remember a car pulling out in front of us pretty fast and finding out he had just shot the owner. We were told to stay there as a witness but no police ever talked to us. I had heard the shooter would not show id but they knew him as Fairborn Junior. Never went in the Sands that I remember...I was 21 at the time...shot alot of pool at the PicWic? Do you remember the name of the pool hall? I live in Hamilton but the last year or so I have driven past there many times!
PaulH
4 posts
Apr 17, 2011
4:09 PM
Twist Club on East 5th(?); LT club; then I moved to the Tender Trap on N. Dixie. Then there was the Italian restaraunt just over the bridge on Keowee and a night club north of the trtaffic circle. I don't remember their names. Around 1971-72. Ring any bells out there?j
F16 1UB
17 posts
Apr 22, 2011
6:21 PM
PaulH - I think that was Annarinos on the other side of the bridge. Ate there many times.
delcodude
142 posts
Apr 22, 2011
8:22 PM
roge:

I have no idea why I seem to chime in a lot about East End bars, lol, but yes, Steve's was close to (Buckeye Boiler at 2027 E 1st). It closed in the early '80s, I think. Also Gene's Point Cafe which was where the Roadhouse is now, at the convergence of 1st and Springfield.
roge
109 posts
Apr 23, 2011
9:53 AM
Hey Delcodude,Yes Steves burned down in April of 78,and I remember Gene's Poimt Cafe when it was called Bosco's Point cafe in the 60's,do you remember a bar on Smithville near Huffman called the Ross Cat Tavern? Yea I been known to stop at at all ,I mean a few of them East Dayton bars.....LOL
AllenN71
182 posts
Apr 23, 2011
4:23 PM
Hunt - You mentioned the "She" nightclub. Since you are an old LE hand, do you remember the night Bill Hilgeford and a bunch of his Wayne teammates got into a fracas with some Northrifge boys and Bill wound up getting shot to death when they were trapped by traffic at Needmore and Troy Pike? This happened in 1970. It was a few months shy of 41 years ago, and I can find no mention of it on the web.

Side note: While I was searching for info on this case, I ran across the name of one "Leo Ford", real name Hilgeford, who was a gay porn star and born in Dayton. Somebody please tell me there was more than one family with that name around here. Cheese.
PaulH
12 posts
Apr 23, 2011
4:31 PM
Thx F16 1UB. Come to think more about this. Afew of us single guys used to go to the clubs that had free pizza or something on Wednesdays and Fridays. The Tenderr Tap was one.

Last Edited by on Apr 23, 2011 11:31 PM
delcodude
143 posts
Apr 24, 2011
10:46 PM
roge:

You got me on the Ross Cat. Roy's is the only bar I can recall from that intersection and it's still there. Though 'Roy' Mcpherson passed away several years back.

Last Edited by on Apr 24, 2011 10:46 PM


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