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Stan and his old-school bar

3/16/2016

“Everybody calls it a dive,” said Candice Crane, the bartender at Stan’s Place on Second Avenue. She goes on to say they’re also known for doing “free pours,” which means they don’t measure how much alcohol goes in each drink.

The gang at Stan’s Place will tell you how it is. From left: Candice Crane, Joyce and Lynn.

The gang at Stan’s Place will tell you how it is. From left: Candice Crane, Joyce and Lynn.

“That’s kind of rare,” she said.

The sign out front reads “Stan’s Place, beer — cocktails.”  Or at least it would if the sign worked. The bulb is burned out.

Stan is the bar’s owner, and according to the folks here on this day, he’s “old school,” which makes sense since his bar is also old school.

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“Stan is cool,” said Michelle, an off-duty bartender who usually works the day shift.

“He’s a good ole boy,” adds Candice.

Stan’s been the owner/operator since 1983, but it’s Candace who is holding down the fort this Thursday evening. She’s been a bartender at Stan’s for many years, she says.

The bar opens at 7:30 a.m., but don’t expect good service. The only person working at that time is Stan himself, and he only works from 7:30-9 a.m. Legend has it that Stan doesn’t like to be bothered then, preferring instead to “sit around and read his newspaper in the morning.”

So while the bar technically opens at 7:30 a.m., if you’re thinking of coming in, you might wait until 9 a.m. when Michelle arrives.

When asked what types of people frequent Stan’s, the answers come quickly.

“You get people from every walk of life who walk through that door. There’s never a dull moment because of that,” said Lynn, a woman seated at the bar who is a regular.

“We’re like a big family,” said another woman, Joyce, who brings in her own wine glass to drink Riunite on ice.

“You come in with your friends and talk or get up and dance depending on how many drinks you’ve had,” said Lynn.

“They would do anything for you, give you their shirt off their back. They’re good people,” said Michelle before knocking back a shot herself.

Wait. Do the shot glasses really read: “Marquisville Methodist Church”?

Yes, they do. No one here knows why, though.

“Stan probably got them at a garage sale,” someone said.

Maybe that’s how he keeps drink prices down.

Candice said that Stan’s is known for its good drinks.

“And good prices, too,” she said. “Probably the cheapest in town. We sell a lot of Fireball and cinnamon whiskey.”

Someone says Candice makes the best margaritas in town. What’s her secret?

“Proportions,” she says and laughs. “Lots of tequila.” CV

Stan’s Place Beer – Cocktails

4275 N.W. Second Ave., 243-9991
Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday
Happy Hour: 4-6 p.m., Monday – Friday $2 beers and well drinks
Free pool on Wednesdays.

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