Mystery Photo #43: Does anyone know which old bar this was?

Kathie Oct 16, 2016 10 Comments

the-mystery-bar

This picture was originally posted on the Duluthians of Zenith Facebook page. So far, the Pickwick and Spalding Hotel have been eliminated. The poster figures it must be a bar in the Duluth area because it’s stamped with a Duluth photographer’s name on the back. Someone in the thread recommended posting it here because you guys know everything there is to know.

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10 Comments

Paul Lundgren

about 8 years ago 

Doug Moen

The first thing I thought of was the old bar above the Capri in Superior where Doug Moen had a costume shop. Clearly that's not it.

Paul Lundgren

about 8 years ago 

Jim Gunderson wrote on Facebook that it "kind of looks like the bar at Tommy Byrne's." That bar, at 1014 Tower Ave. in Superior, was renamed La Belle in the mid 1980s. It closed in 2013 during Tower Avenue road construction.

Other theories on Facebook include the Dugout in Superior and Northeastern Saloon in Cloquet. All worth looking into.

Tony D.

about 8 years ago 

Royal Bohemian was made by Duluth Brewing and Malt, Regal Supreme by People's, and there is a Fitger's sign at the far right—all Duluth breweries, and the period is post-prohibition based on the product names, at a time during which I would assume most bars in Superior would have gotten their beer from Superior's Northern Brewing, so my guess is that the bar is on the Duluth side of the bay, but I wouldn't rule out the Northeastern.

Jesse Smith

about 8 years ago 

It's the Northeastern in cloquet. The bar is still the same except the left mirror is cracked from a billiard ball.

bully

about 8 years ago 

I dont think it is the Northeastern, based on the photos of their bar on the FB page.

Dawn Marie

about 8 years ago 

The Nordy has two bars inside, the one in Bully's photo is a secondary bar.  There is a doorway to the right of the person who took this photo which leads into another room with the original bar, the hallway to the bathrooms and the old "front" door that faces the railroad tracks.   It's been probably two years or more  since I was last in here, and I'm struggling to recall all of the details of the original bar and if it matches up to the photo this post is about.  I believe it does, and Jesse Smith is correct about the billiard ball crack in it.

Kathie

about 8 years ago 

Not the Northeastern. A friend stopped by there yesterday  to check for me. 
This is a pic of the main bar and the one in the other room was installed by the current owners.  
She didn't get a pic of that one but, she talked with the bartender and showed him/her the pic of the bar we were looking for and they said...it's not the same as the one they installed.

Paul Lundgren

about 8 years ago 

I can confirm the bar at the Dugout Lounge in Superior is also not the mystery bar. It has similar ornate features, but is clearly not the same one. I didn't even bother shooting a photo; they keep it super dark in there, God bless them.

Dawn Marie

about 8 years ago 

Thank you Kathy, I had planned to stop in there and snap a photo but life happened and I forgot!

Paul Lundgren

about 8 years ago 

Not that the Tommy Bryne's / La Belle lead is particularly hot or not, but for the sake of providing new general information ...

Tommy Byrne's

The Superior Public Library posted this image on Facebook recently, noting:


The building began its life as a saloon in 1899. It was owned by William LaJoie and featured "wines, liquors and cigars." Joseph Lynch owned it from about 1904 until 1917 and ran both a saloon and restaurant on the premises. After Prohibition became the rule of the day, the saloon was converted into a restaurant in 1920. Opened with an "elaborate dinner" for over one hundred people, the Young China Cafe stayed in business until 1930. It was followed by the New Grand Cafe and later, after the repeal of Prohibition, the Roosevelt Tavern. Thomas Byrne bought the business in the late 1930s and put his name on the place.
 

As noted above, it became La Belle in the 1980s and closed in 2013. The building was demolished in early 2017.

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