Now normally, less than desirable service like this would be annoying but at the Valley it simply makes it more endearing. On my last trip there, Zig-Zag ( remember that asshole? ) and I ordered shots of whiskey and were asked if we wanted them chilled only after the matronly bartender had poured them.

Speaking of the folks at the Valley, they are pretty friendly as long as you don't ruffle any feathers, which you wouldn't want to do anyway right? The average age here for patrons is certainly older than the norm but that's what makes it fun. Are you fucking kidding me? If there were 48 people in this bar it would be so packed there's a good chance it would implode due to the pressure. Above the bar is the fire marshall's maximum capacity sign that reads 48. The bar seats about 15 and there's not a table to be found. The bar is a straight shot from left to right with the right side wrapping into the wall to make a path towards the bathrooms. These things suck a big bag of dicks but fortunately for you dear reader, you won't have to worry about hearing shit music at the Valley because most of the folks here have pretty damn good taste. This, despite the fact that the Valley recently made the transition from the old school flip-disc style juke to the fancy new internet jukebox that everyone agrees is a great thing piece of shit internet juke that allows people to play whatever God-awful shit they can find. The beers are cheap, the barflies are friendly, and the jukebox consistently cranks out some of the best tunes in town. By the way, the place is for sale if anyone is interested in returning the bar to its former glory.Īs for the Valley, it's still going strong after about 40 years with no sign of slowing down.

I was there and remember patrons burning the roadside wooden sign that directed weary travelers on Route 8 to the old tavern, a sad sight indeed. Remember the Locus Point Tap? The hut still stands but the bar closed its doors about six years ago. Also, the fact that Peoria used to have two Quonset hut bars probably makes it the coolest city ever.

Many are still standing throughout the United States.Ī quick and lazy google search didn't turn up much for Quonset huts that have been turned into bars but I'm guessing that that number is pretty low, which only adds to the uniqueness of the Valley.

military sold the surplus Quonset huts to the public for $1,000 each -this approached the cost of a small home. According to Wikipedia.īetween 150,000 and 170,000 Quonset huts were manufactured during World War II. The building is a Quonset hut which, if you don't know anything about has a pretty interesting history. Meadowbrook Lane in Peoria, the Valley is one of the longest standing bars in the city and one of the most unique.

View from the 6 kickass