Arnold's Bar and Grill

Arnold's Bar and Grill
Restaurant information
Current owner(s) Ronda Breeden Androski
Previous owner(s) Susan Fawcett, Simon Arnold, Jim Christakos, Jim Tarbell
Food type American
Street address 210 E 8th St
City Cincinnati
County Hamilton
State Ohio
Postal code/ZIP 45202
Country USA
Coordinates 39°06′19″N 84°30′36″W / 39.10514°N 84.51011°W / 39.10514; -84.51011Coordinates: 39°06′19″N 84°30′36″W / 39.10514°N 84.51011°W / 39.10514; -84.51011
Website arnoldsbarandgrill.com

Arnold's Bar and Grill is the oldest continuously-operating bar[1][2] in Cincinnati, Ohio and one of the oldest in the United States.[3]

History

The establishment was first opened in 1838 by Susan Fawcett as "a whorehouse," according to Cincinnati historian Mike Morgan.[1][4] In 1861, new owner Simon Arnold operated it as a bar and lived upstairs.[1] The Arnold family operated the bar through three generations until 1959,[5] when they sold it to former professional wrestler and mob collector Jim Christakos,[6] who also lived upstairs.[1]

In 1976, Cincinnati City Council member Jim Tarbell purchased it from Christakos and also moved in upstairs.[1] He expanded the bar to include a large outdoor courtyard.[1] In 1998 longtime Arnold's waiter Ronda Androski bought it to run with her son Chris Breeden.[1][5]

During prohibition the bar operated as a speakeasy.[1][4] The builiding is rumored to be haunted.[7]

Reception

In 2015, Thrillist named it "the most iconic bar in Ohio".[8] In 2013, David Wondrich of Esquire named it one of the seventeen "Best Bars in America," writing that "if it were in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, or Boston -- somewhere, in short, that people actually visit -- it would be world-famous."[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Restivo, Danny (April 2014). "Arnold's Way". Cincinnati Magazine. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  2. Pennebaker, Holly (April 14, 2015). "Thrillist: Cincinnati's oldest bar is Ohio's most iconic". WCPO-TV. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Wondrich, David (June 2013). "The Best Bars in America". Esquire. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Arnold's Brothels, Bootleggers, and Booze Tours". QueenCityHistory.com. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  5. 1 2 "History". Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  6. "The Greek Who Made the Spaghetti "authentic" at Arnold’s". QueenCityHistory.com. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  7. Alter, Mixim (October 21, 2015). "Weird shadows. Loud bumps in the night. Is Arnold's Bar haunted? Creepy signs point to yes". WCPO-TV. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  8. Breslour, Lee (April 8, 2015). "THE MOST ICONIC BAR IN EVERY STATE (AND DC)". Thrillist. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
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