(A Commentary) 

When one works for a firm that revolves around the bar industry, you hear things. 

One of the telling things I’ve overheard these are phone comments like these: 

Hey. let’s catch up for a drink after work? Great! I’ll meet you at that pub downtown.

You know, the one with the wood panelling.

That retro bistro with the fancy burgers.

The one with the copper microbrewery 

The little place with the old mosaic tiles behind the antique marble bar.

The one with a gazillion tap handles.

Huh? You don’t recall? What do you mean all the pubs in our town look the same?

As one who writes regularly about bars and pubs, I realized that the last comment was absolutely right.

Could it be that the classic urban pub is dead?

With dwindling exceptions going to a “trendy” downtown area these days is a lot like walking into a chain supermarket, fast food joint or hardware outlet. Here in our major city of half a million people, the downtown teems with crowds every night. There are over 30 restaurants, each with a bar, within walking distance. Yet, to a one, they are chain stores. Nothing is unique or one-of-a-kind. I can find these places anywhere in the region and beyond…and be assured that they all look the same.

It was one of the selling points with McDonalds…you can go anywhere and find the exact same menu and quality of food. That may be great for fast food, but bars and pubs should be different…at least some of the time, even if they are a chain. Identical decor is not mandatory. 

It’s as if the motto is ‘let’s give all the pubs in town the same generic three or four star hotel lobby look — caters to everyone but has no signature taste’ — vastly different to the scene back half a lifetime ago. 

To make the bar scene is strong, it would seem that one would strive to have a great variety in the atmosphere, interior design and signature themes, even within a chain. That would make each place unique, yet still encourage one to visit other locations of the same establishment just to enjoy the difference but experience the same service and quality in the menu. Is it too much to ask? 

Again, in this city’s downtown, there are 30 restaurants. That is a lot of competition. Bars and pubs have clearly not been looking for ways to bring in a new clientele: young people, women, families.

But sadly, by seeking to be all things to all people — part tavern, part gambling den, part sports lounge, part restaurant, part nightclub — our city bars have lost the character and authenticity that made them so unique and richly interesting.

It’s become near impossible to find a city establishment where it’s still possible to simply pull up a stool at the bar, order a beer and make a few new friends.

Despite expensive upgrades, several city pubs have struggled to stay afloat in recent years, with the industry blaming rising costs, flat turnover and a proliferation of ‘‘pop-up’’ venues, which they say have drained profits from bricks-and-mortar businesses.

Some blame the State Government for championing small bars at the expense of larger venues.

Apparently, according to very unscientific bar gossip, population growth has been rapid for two decades yet this state has the highest number of liquor licenses per capita. 

If that is true, then it is about time some of them started trying to find a point of difference or it could be last drinks. 

And by the way, the latest feature of American Bars is our new “Last Throwback” bar obituary column found every Monday on the website. Tell your favorite watering hole about it…and that they need to stay off the obit list.