PHOTOS: See what’s ‘new’ inside reopened Poggie Tavern

Now that Poggie Tavern in The Junction has reopened, you can get a look at what’s new inside, after some work done during the closure. Co-proprietor Joel Stedman invited us to stop by to see the “aquarium bar” – and we discovered that some of what’s new is also ‘old.” For example, there’s a tribute to Alki Tavern, the legendary dive bar that closed eight years ago to make way for redevelopment:

In that spirit, a souvenir from another West Seattle dive bar that’s had its last call, the Tug Inn, holds a spot at the Poggie too (as shown here last summer):

And then there’s Klaus:

Klaus was a Poggie regular who wanted some of his ashes put in a flask and left at the bar. The flask is placed near the stool he always sat at. Meantime, here’s a wider look behind the bar:

It’s been a year since Joel and wife Margo Beaver took over the Poggie (4717 California SW), whose previous owners had run it for 23 years. The Poggie is open noon-11 pm every day.

10 Replies to "PHOTOS: See what's 'new' inside reopened Poggie Tavern"

  • CarDriver February 23, 2021 (4:17 pm)

    Is my memory correct that the Poggie is the junctions oldest business??

    • bjdude February 23, 2021 (7:27 pm)

      Husky Deli is older. So is Menashe.

    • Pete A. February 23, 2021 (11:22 pm)

      There’s been a bar at this location since at least 1934, and it’s been “Poggie’s” since at least 1935. However, the original building was replaced with the current one in 1970.

  • Marcus February 23, 2021 (7:13 pm)

    I remember Poogie Tavern as a little kid somewhere between the ole fish market and Kresses varity store.  The door would open and the place would be packed with people my parents age, lively and noisy as the smoke waffled out the door.  Then the door would swing shut and the inner realm of Poggie would be gone.  Early 1960’s.

  • Pam February 23, 2021 (7:29 pm)

    Looking forward to live music again at the Poggie!

  • LL February 23, 2021 (9:41 pm)

    Can someone remind me of the proper pronunciation?  We call it Poe-gies, although the spelling is obviously read as Pog-gies…my out of town friends think we’re all nuts!  ‘Cause I love this place, perhaps I am. 😂

    • Eddie February 24, 2021 (8:01 am)

      “POGGIE”. No “S”.Just like “Boeing”, not “boeings”.”I found one of Poggie’s chairs in the street again”.

  • KellyM February 24, 2021 (8:09 am)

     Marcus, you are correct.  The old fish market and the “dime” store were there in the early 60’s.  There was a lunch counter in the dime store.  I remember when for a hot minute we actually had a Gap store in one of those spots in the early  70’s.

  • eatbat3 February 24, 2021 (9:49 am)

    Pronounced “The Poh-Ggie”. “The” is required, “o” is pronounced “oh”, and there’s no possessive “s” at the end.

  • Alecia Rivas February 25, 2021 (5:32 pm)

    Klaus was my father. He would have loved to see this. The Poggie was his favorite place, his home away from home.

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