We - I - haven’t seen the signs, but readers are e-mailing us with reports of seeing signs/flyers on Fremont Avenue North announcing the imminent closure and moving of Buckaroo Tavern from its longtime home at 4201 Fremont Ave. N.
Photo credit: Kurt Schlosser
Those getting off the No.5 bus at 41st Street and Fremont Avenue North have seen signs that state that the landlord refused to renew their lease and they will be closing on September 17.
Another reader sent us a link to a blog that has a lot of information we have not verified yet; but if what he writes is accurate, then the Buckaroo will continue to live, but down at the bottom of the hill.
According to its history:
The Fabulous Buckaroo Tavern was established in 1938, on the ground floor of a two-story building that was built in 1908. Between 1908 and 1938 a butcher shop and a grain store amongst other businesses operated in this location. The current owners (Keith & Donna Morey) bought The Fabulous Buckaroo Tavern in 1984, and are only the third owners of this tavern since 1938.
What are you hearing, readers?
We’ll try to find out more for you, too.
17 responses so far ↓
1 Lori Theis // Jul 29, 2010 at 9:56 pm
The Buckaroo is indeed moving to the bottom of the hill. That is it.
2 ballardmike // Jul 30, 2010 at 12:36 am
That really blows! Maybe the poorly named “Nils-Sila Pub” should open their new place down the hill.
3 Fruitbat // Jul 30, 2010 at 7:38 am
NOOOOOOOOOoooooooo!
Is nothing sacred? Or importantly profane, like the Buckaroo?
The Nils-Sila will last maybe a year, then the space will keep turning into something else and be empty for ages–losing money for the building owners while ripping the heart out of Fremont. Thanks, dudes. You’re worse than Suzie Burke.
It would be different–sad, but different, if the Buckaroo was closing because of declining business (would be surprising, too). But to kill it in the name of some other trendoid establishment (just guessing here)–horrible
The story is in the Times, so I was hoping it wasn’t accurate. Sadly, it appears it is.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012485634_buckaroo30.html
Maybe we can get Paul Allen to buy the building and rename it the EBP (Experience Beer Project) and keep the Buckaroo as some kind of living history?
4 Kurt X // Jul 30, 2010 at 8:38 am
While recognizing its historical significance, living near “the Buck” is an exercise in frustration. I’m an urban dweller through and through, but this place attracts an endless stream of irritating bikers who seem to like nothing more than to rev the modified engines of their machines at 2:00 am, echoing through the streets, rattling windows, and waking up sleeping kids. For this reason alone I’m quite pleased about news of a shutdown. The Buckaroo Tavern has not been a good neighbor.
5 Sarah McMenomy // Jul 30, 2010 at 10:12 am
I live very close to the Buck, too (they were quite riled up last night!), but I love it — honestly, having them being active late makes me feel a little bit safer about the neighborhood. I know if I need something suddenly late at night, I can run down there and people will be there. The clientele, while frequently pleasantly drunk, never seems to get belligerent and horrible — possibly because drinking beer only allows for a certain amount of that.
I’ve made friends at the Buck, had birthdays at the Buck, and had it there as a place to go when I didn’t want to sit alone in my apartment anymore.
I was completely intimidated the first time I went there. I thought it was a biker bar, and that it would be somehow rough-and-tumble. But that’s entirely the opposite of what the Buckaroo is.
No more “How many penises can we find carved in THIS booth?” games. They might have real doors on their bathroom stalls now. They’ll probably have higher rent, and charge more for pool games. It’ll probably be another Dubliner. Yawn.
I wish I could be happy that I won’t have to live in a world with no Buck, but what is the Buck if it’s not in the same place that it’s been for the last 72 years?
There are other pubs and restaurants and bars around Fremont, but there is nowhere that is as much “home” as the Buck. And that’s not a hole that can be replaced by a coffee shop, a Mediterranean restaurant, or just about anything else. BUCK, DON’T GO!
6 George Flik // Jul 30, 2010 at 10:20 am
Man, this city is so fricken’ frustrating sometimes. And Nils and Lars are just idiots for doing this. North Fremont was the last bastion of hope for the “Ave N” area south of 80th. Now it too will become homogenized. At least we still have Lighthouse and Paseo (but for how long?)
Sorry, Kurt X, but the Buckaroo was there long before you probably moved there, serving much the same clientele, so your complaints don’t hold much water with me. Not that you care. I have lived in the neighborhood on two separate occasions, and don’t find the sound of motorcycles to be particularly annoying at any time.
7 mike // Jul 30, 2010 at 10:51 am
Thanks for the Black Star beer sign and the excellent story about your trip to Montana. We will always cherish it. Mike and B-rad
8 Tiktok // Jul 30, 2010 at 11:56 am
OH NO! Where will bikers get their drink on in Fremont? The current paucity of bars is so disheartening.
9 leanne // Jul 30, 2010 at 12:01 pm
Devasted. I appreciate the willingness for the Buckaroo owners to want to re-open the bar somewhere is Fremont, but it won’t be the same. The atmosphere in the tavern is what made it so special. I have celebrated my birthday there a few times and have spent countless times there with my dad. The owners of the building are idiots for not keeping the Buckaroo in its original place. Simply idiots.
10 Rusty // Jul 30, 2010 at 6:31 pm
HEY BILL GATES!!! You live in Seattle.
Why don’t you do something useful with your money and SAVE THE BUCK
11 gerryjarcia // Jul 31, 2010 at 5:37 am
News of the Buck closing comes as no surprise. I used to live right up the street from the bar and a couple of (presumably) homeless dudes used to crash out in the bushes behind my apartment sometimes when they were too drunk to make it “home”.
I made friends with the guys (they were amiable enough) and let them know that it was ok if they crashed in the bushes and slept it off, they just had to keep down the noise.
A certain day found me feeling rather depressed and so I decided to take a walk around the neighborhood. I ran into Curtis (one of the Buckaroo regulars) who was standing in front of the Buck smoking a cig. I didn’t feel like getting a drink so i stood outside and talked with him for a few minutes. The guy had such a positive outlook on life I couldn’t help but feel a little better when I walked back up to my apartment.
What we as a culture end up losing out on when places like the Buck are gone is perspective. Americans, more than any other people I know, are in great need of perspective. Being around people from different backgrounds who are willing to share their stories can help to make us a more well rounded society.
The Buck will be sorely missed, and most people won’t truly comprehend what was lost until it is long gone.
12 Girliehammer // Jul 31, 2010 at 9:28 am
Hey Rusty,
Have you not heard of the Gates Foundation? I’m in agreement with you and everyone else and I’m very sad to hear about the closing of the Buckaroo. I used to live nearby and have fond memories of that neighborhood and of that bar. But come on, you need to be a little more informed before you start throwing around crap about who should do what with their money.
-A loyal Mac user
13 kate // Aug 1, 2010 at 12:33 pm
While I’m not one to go to dive bars (not exactly a mousy geek girl venue), I’ve lived in Fremont for 9+ years and will miss the Buck. I used to be scared of walking by it at night and would intentionally cross the street and then abck to avoid it. One night, this man, either drunk or not quite there mentally, started following me from outside Markettime and harrassing me. He grabbed hold of my backpack about around the Buck and I yelled at him to let go. All of a suddden, 5-6 Buck patrons and eventually more had grabbed the guy and were asking if I was okay.
Since then, I happily walk past the Buck.
– kate
14 Annika // Aug 2, 2010 at 7:09 am
As someone who used to live next door, I’m sure the neighborhood is THRILLED at this news. That place is LOUD.
15 Shawn // Aug 2, 2010 at 4:15 pm
I’ve live a block away from the Buck for 12 years. I’m NOT thrilled. Until the advent of the outdoor smoking corral, noise wasn’t much of an issue (except for the occasional loud motorcycle). I’ve had a conversation with the building owner, and it’s clear that there are 2 sides to this story and only one is getting told. It’s not my place to tell it, however. I will continue to hold out hope that the Buckaroo will live on, at that location, with new ownership. The bright side will be the end of that infernal smoking corral.
16 Fremontster // Aug 5, 2010 at 1:07 pm
@Annika
“As someone who used to live next door, I’m sure the neighborhood is THRILLED at this news. That place is LOUD.”
That place has been loud for 72 years. Perhaps people like you should move to the suburbs where it’s always quiet.
17 Dave // Sep 9, 2010 at 9:59 am
I used to live smack-dab between the Buck and Aurora on 42nd Street. Yes, every now and again I heard the motorcycles late at night, but there’s no denying that the Buck is one of the last vestiges of authentic culture left in Fremont. Additionally, I agree with others that it actually kept the neighborhood safe. The Aurora crowd can be spooky. One night a guy started chasing and threatening me. I called the cops and they told me to stand in front of the Buckaroo, where it’s always bright under the neon. Is it too late to save this place?
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