The best things are preserved at the Preservation Pub

Photo by Greg Wood

Collen Keller and Carl Carlson cozy up on a winter night at Preservation Pub.

Photo by Greg Wood

Collen Keller and Carl Carlson cozy up on a winter night at Preservation Pub.

Photo by Greg Wood

Brandon Blevins, left, and Chuck Mauldin take it easy at Preservation Pub.

KNOXVILLE — Any time one of my favorite Knoxville establishments changes it scares me.

Recently, I was freaked out walking up to Preservation Pub on a Tuesday night and seeing their outdoor chalkboard read "$2 pint night," even though, ultimately, that's a very, very good thing.

Knoxville bars often suffer unfortunate fates. With the college crowd's ever-shifting loyalty, most bars not differing in style from each other, and the economy the way it is, nowhere seems safe anymore.

If you've lived in Knoxville for longer than a couple years, you've undoubtedly seen key venues fall or change ownership, giving way to something new and not necessarily better.

The Pub is one of the only places I've ever been a regular. In college, a friend and I frequented their Tuesday night singer-songwriter open mic. We were there multiple times a month. Although our act was relatively informal, prominent local musicians like Medford's Black Record Collection, Hudson K and Roman Reese were happy to share two songs each on these evenings.

I learned pretty quickly on Tuesday that this event is no more.

Instead, the Pub had the lights down, causing a deeper, darker red hue to blare from the walls. A crowd in their 30s and 40s occupied most of the tables and booths, chatting and sipping discounted draft beer. The thick cigarette smoke, however, remained.

It was a scene I didn't expect, but it's not out of place as the Pub appeals to so many people. Regardless of age, a high percentage of bargoers will cite the Pub as their favorite venue in town.

The pub is known for its posters of celebrities featuring quotes of theirs about alcohol. R.B. Morris, Tom Waits, Oscar Wilde and even Homer Simpson are all represented. These have been there for years and still entertain me. There are new posters as well - such as one with former local musician Phil Pollard and a catchy alcohol-related rhyme.

I hear people refer to the Pub as the "philosophy major" bar occasionally. Although there weren't many college students (probably due to Christmas break), this claim seems accurate. In the bathroom, which used to be decked out in graffiti, there is only one slogan written on a pipe on the ceiling that remains, reading, "It's all placebo" in black pen with the response, "Who cares if it works?" in green pen. Pretty wise for something sketched in a bar bathroom.

The Pub's changes are minimal and inevitable. Fortunately, my favorite aspect of the bar has not changed - bartender and manager Jill. She's the smiley face blonde of Pres Pub.

By this point, Jill should've won just about every best bartender award in the known universe. Even when the Pub is most packed, Jill doesn't drop the ball or take too long, and she's never messed up my tab.

Years ago instead of asking me which beer I wanted, she would simply ask me if I needed one or two Miller High Lifes. Unfortunately, the bar no longer has High Life on draft, but Jill seemed to accept my transition to Fat Tire.

Pretty quickly she pointed out her Converse All-Star shoes, a staple of her wardrobe, to me. "They're the same ones I've had for years," she said happily. "I should probably get new ones."

As the jukebox (the old-school kind, not the Internet kind) played the Talking Heads' epic live performance "Stop Making Sense," my friends and I grabbed the last open booth, where we sat for the rest of the night. Fortunately, the music wasn't too loud, as it usually is when there's a live act. (The place is notorious for being louder than a plane taking off.) Also, on crowded nights, the whole bathroom situation is a killer because the facilities are too limited.

Even though Tuesday nights are calmer now, they haven't lost their excitement. The Pub has preserved its appeal for years and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

© 2010, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
Want to use this article? Click here for options!

© 2010 Knoxville.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.