User:Rosaamoore/Blue Moon Tavern

My plan for this topic, Blue Moon Tavern is to add more historical information. This tavern has been around since the early 1900's. I am going to the highlight some key moments in their history, owner information and facts that are missing or need improvement.

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Tavern on the Green

The Blue Moon is a tavern located on the west edge of the University District in Seattle, Washington, United States. It opened in April 1934, four months after the repeal of Prohibition, and has been visited by many counterculture icons over the years.

History
The tavern also provided a haven for UW professors who were caught up in the McCarthyist purge, such as Joe Butterworth, who used the bar as his writing desk. Its heyday continued into the 1950s and 1960s. Regulars included authors Tom Robbins and Darrell Bob Houston, poets Theodore Roethke, Richard Hugo, Carolyn Kizer, Stanley Kunitz, and David Wagoner, and painters Richard Gilkey and Leo Kenney. Other visitors included Dylan Thomas, Ken Kesey, Allen Ginsberg and Mik Moore.

A popular story claims that sometime in the late 1960s, Tom Robbins tried to call the artist Pablo Picasso in Barcelona from a pay phone at the Blue Moon Tavern. Supposedly, Robbins got through to Picasso, but the artist refused to accept the overseas collect calling charges.[citation needed]

The Blue Moon declined in the 1970s. Efforts to "redevelop" the property in 1989 were derailed by community activists led by Walt Crowley; however, an attempt in 1990 to gain landmark status failed. Developers spared the tavern after landmark status was denied. The Blue Moon remains one of the few surviving blue-collar landmarks in Seattle.

In 1995, the alley to the west of the Blue Moon was named Roethke Mews in honor of the bar's famous patron Theodore Roethke. The business has been described as a dive bar.

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The Blue Moon Tavern is a dive bar in Seattle, Washington bar just outside the U-District of the college town. It's a community based bar with a long history beginning with is original owner, Hank Reverman ambition to successfully open a bar age the age of 21 to the efforts to remain open during Covid-19. The Blue Moon Tavern has remained influence since it has opened.

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History: Founders story

The Blue Moon Tavern opened in April 1934 with the original owner Henry "Hank" John Reverman in Seattle, Washington. After much convincing Hank was able to utilized his college fund to open a bar at the age of twenty one.

Upon completion of the prohibition era, the Blue Moon Tavern was one of the first bars that forcefully crossed racial barriers and has remained successful over the years. Hank owned the bar for a few years and soon left for the military where he became a pilot.

More than a dive bar: a community staple

This community staple in the U-District is more than a run down dive bar, its historical monument. Since opening in 1934 it's hosted live music events, host of college students and plenty of regulars.

The Blue Moon Tavern is no stranger to scrutiny in 2004 the application for an upgraded liquor license had been denied. At the time the Blue Moon tavern only served beer and wine. The owner, Gus Hellthaler, had refused to sign a 32 page "community good neighbor agreement". This agreement was stipulated actions that Hellthaler didn't agree with. Two months later, Hellthaler received notice from the Washington State Liquor Control Board that his application had been denied due to unethical activities in the tavern; selling drugs.

In 2005 members of Seattle's Joint Assessment Team (JAT)--a multiagency task force that monitors clubs for public safety, revenue, and licensing visits the Blue Moon Tavern. During the visit, every patrons ID was checked and violation issued of for lack of certification of occupancy and over serving of alcohol to a patron.

Staying in business: COVID-19

During COVID-19 pandemic the Blue Moon Tavern managed to keep the 89 year old business alive. During this time most restaurants and bars were faced with closure. The Blue Moon Tavern sought out alternatives by opening a take-out window for coffee sales. In 2022 the tavern was sold to long time bartender, Tim Dooley.

References:
And Jennifer Sullivan, Jack Broom. “He Used College Money to Open Blue Moon - Hank Reverman, 96, Later Became Pilot, Flight instructor Obituary.” Seattle Times, The (WA), 2009, p. B5. America’s News – Historical and Current, Accessed 9 Oct. 2023.

Brooks, Diane. “U District’s Funky Hangout Turns 70 - Blue Moon Tavern Customers Stay Loyal across the Miles and over the Years.” Seattle Times, The (WA), 2004, p. B1. America’s News – Historical and Current, Accessed 10 Oct. 2023.

Luce. “Sunnyside Council Mum on Alcohol Requests/Mike Pechoes Owner of Blue Moon Tavern Petitions to Serve Food and Alcohol on Sidewalk Outside His Restaurant.” Yakima Herald-Republic (WA), 1999, pp. B3-3. America’s News – Historical and Current, Accessed 10 Oct. 2023.

Jenniges, Amy. "Moon Blues; City Harasses Beloved--and Peaceful--University District Bar." The Stranger Sep 2005: 11. ProQuest. 27 Oct. 2023.

Epes, James. “Blue Moon beams as new apartments go up.” Puget Sound Business Journal, vol. 15, no. 3, 1994, p. 1.