Post #543502 by faztiki on Mon, Jul 19, 2010 10:26 PM

Well John-O, let me tell you a sad sad story.
every Sunday a few friends and i would pile into a '68 caddy and hit the streets. starting usually with a coldy at the Log Cabin (San Jose's oldest bar), or at the Caravan, we drive south down Almaden Expressway, stopping along our way at The Bears, The Branham Lounge, Almaden Feed-n-Fuel, and ending up at Quail Hollow. Each of these beautiful establishments had class, personality, and cold cold drinks. on our return Northbound we would inevitably end up in heaven, the counter at Original Joes. All of these bars were on a 25 mile stretch of the same road, except OJ's which was one block East.
in the last six years - The Bears -torn down and turned into a vacant strip mall / The Branham Lounge - now called the NEW Branham Lounge - added 6 plasma TVs that are always on, even when sports arent / The Log Cabin - now a taqueria (and not a good one) / Almaden Feed-n-Fuel - closed by noise complaints from nearby homes that were built 80 years after the bar was opened / Quail Hollow - burned down, probably by the developer who bought the whole hillside overlooking this incredible bar perched lakeside in the cinnibar hills. and finally, OJ's.
Original Joe's still stands, although last year they closed for 4 months while they gutted the inside, including removal of the fireplace, the charm, some asbestos, and all of the class from the rear bar. Instead of the classiest bar and best martinis in town, the bartenders are serving food to tables of kids.
its criminal.
now i stay at home on sundays.
let my tale of woe be a message to those who 'appreciate' the classic bars without frequenting them! if you treasure something, get out there and support it!

oh yeah, i was back in Columbus Ohio a few months back. I knew The Kahiki had long been gone, but i had never seen the gorgeous CVS drugstore thats taken its place. fuck progress.