Simplified: There's 65 years of community in the walls of Smoe's Bar, and when the bar opened Tuesday night for the first time since 2011, that vibe picked right back up, said co-owner Pat Nelson, sitting in one of the olive-green booths lining the wall of the newly renovated space on Eighth Street.

Why it matters

  • Smoe's originally opened in that exact location – 921 E. 8th St. – in 1942. For context, at that time the city had just over 40,000 people, and the interstates were still about two decades from being completed.
  • For Nelson, the vision was to create a casual, approachable, "regular-ass place," and when the location became available, he knew there was no way he could open a bar there and not call it, "Smoe's."
  • It's not about trying to be an exact replica of the Smoe's of yore, Nelson added, but there is a vibe of camaraderie and community that felt apparent on day one.
"There's something in these walls," Nelson said, noting the building's 65-year history as Smoe's. "People just seem really happy that it's back."

Tell me more

Smoe's Bar was a staple for folks in the Whittier neighborhood over the decades, and, for folks like Dawn Olson-Cheskey, who lives about a block away, it's "wonderful" to have it back open.

  • Olson-Cheskey worked at Smoe's for a few years in the mid-'90s and in about 2005, her son, Vinnie Olson, got a job at the bar.

Both Dawn and Vinnie were enjoying a drink Tuesday afternoon reflecting on what it means to have their old haunt back under new ownership.

"It's awesome having a neighborhood bar," Olson said.

Over the years, the bar changed ownership a few times, and ultimately closed in 2011. The building was home to other bars, and even served as a studio for Joy Collective Yoga and, most recently, Good NAtured before returning to its roots as Smoe's.

Co-owner Nelson, who also owns Hello Hi – a tiki bar concept on Phillips Avenue – has memories of his own in the original Smoe's before it closed down.

"I have friends that I made in this bar that I still have today," Nelson said.

When's it open?

Smoe's Bar is open seven days a week, with a full bar and tavern-style pizza from Le Oui Oui (a completely different offering than what you'd find at Hello Hi, but still homemade by the same folks).

  • Hours are 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday, 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and noon to 2 a.m. Sunday.