Three friends with experience in the St. Louis bar and music scenes are opening a neighborhood watering hole called Johnnie Walker’s San Loo this month at 3211 Cherokee St. “If I’m going to frequent a bar, I’d rather do it the way I’d like to do it and have fun with it,” said co-owner Jon Coriell, who plays with local band Wolfpussy.
The space previously housed Livery Company, which moved two doors down to 3227 Cherokee St., as reported by the Riverfront Times. Because the interior doesn’t need much work, Coriell said, he hopes to open around May 15.
The bar’s unique moniker has two sources of inspiration. The first part comes from the name of one of its co-owners, John Walker Eckles. The second honors the San Loo Chinese Checkers games produced in the first half of the 20th century by the St. Louis-based Northwestern Products Co.
Johnnie Walker’s San Loo won’t serve food, and guests are welcome to bring their own meals. The bar will feature six taps with Pabst Blue Ribbon and a rotating selection of local beers from breweries like 4 Hands and The Civil Life. The liquor selection will lean toward whiskey, and Coriell said mixed drinks will be available, but don’t expect a full cocktail menu. “We’re not going to get too fancy-dancy on anybody,” he said.
Coriell anticipates hosting two live music shows a week, one on Wednesdays and another during the weekend, ranging from punk rock to blues to “jazz for a quiet weeknight show.” But music won’t be the bar’s main focus. “I want it to be a place where you can come and have a conversation,” he said.
The bar will be open daily from 5 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Monday through Friday, 2 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. to midnight Sunday.
This article appears in May 2015.