The Dive Bar offers more
than name would suggest
Downtown Development Fund
money was used by owner
Mike West to open the bar
By Steven Neuman
Freelance Reporter
The term "dive bar" conjures images
of sticky floors, small bathrooms, poor
lighting, cheap beer and stale peanuts.
But that description is a for ay from The
Dive Bar & Grill, Eugene's newest
restaurant which features in-house mi
crobrews, comfort food with a gourmet
twist, a video game lounge and eye
popping art based on The Beatles' "Yel
low Submarine" animated film.
The city took another step toward
revitalizing downtown when local en
trepreneur Mike West unveiled his
newest venture, located at 844 Olive
St., Jan. 29. The Dive was financed in
part by a $75,000 loan from the Eu
gene Downtown Development Fund,
a program that provides financial aid
to local businesses in an effort to re
, develop downtown.
Mayor Jim Torrey, who has wit
nessed a push for downtown redevel
opment during his tenure, spoke
about downtown businesses at the
grand opening gala.
"We do have to get people to come
back down into downtown Eugene.
We do have to support the people
who are taking a step of courage to
open businesses," Torrey said. "Make
it a point when you've got a choice
and you don't know for sure. Should I
go there? Should I go here? Come
here. Do it because we want to sup
port them, but do it because this is a
great place to be in downtown."
West is the president of MW
Kitchens Inc. His company also owns
West Bros. River Ranch, 3 Square Bar
& Cafe and Mona Lizza Ristorante &
Bar, which is located directly next to
The Dive. Echoing Torrey's senti
ments, West said The Dive is a new ex
periment in downtown business.
"I'm wildly excited about it. Late
night traffic is something historically
that my company hasn't generated a lot
of," he said. "We've been in the dinner
KTOlHMi
Community
Center lor the
Performing Arts
8th &
Lincoln
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business so this is going to be a real di
gression. At my age doing new things is
rare, and we're going to be doing a lot
of new things."
The Dive, which is open to minors
until 9 p.m., features a sizable and af
fordable menu with snacks, entrees,
burgers, sandwiches and soups — all
under $7.50. The fully stocked bar fea
tures domestic and imported beers in
addition to the restaurant's own brews.
The restaurant also boasts pool tables,
wireless Internet access and space for
live shows featuring local bands.
The basement lounge features a sep
arate bar and six interconnected Xbox
consoles wired for live Internet play in
front of overstuffed couches. Customers
from watching what was happening in
the neighborhood/' he said.
"We were getting a lot more people
coming off campus. 1 helped build Ren
nie's, so I don't want everybody to stop
going to Rennie's, but I'd love to see
them down here a little bit" West said.
When West came to Eugene in
1972, he said the downtown district
was "radically different."
Amara Sena, a Lane Community
College student, said she's noticed a
change in the Broadway area.
"Downtown has come a long way
from what it used to be. Just a few
years ago, I wouldn't have even want
ed to walk down here," she said. "But
now that the streets are opened up
i£_:_$^z.*.3LZm_« ' iiu.
Tim Bobosky Photographer
(Left to right) Head brewer Chip Harey, owner Mike West and woodworker Alan Oster
celebrate the opening of The Dive Bar and Grill, downtown's newest venue.
over 21 can play for $5 per controller
per hour. West plans to hold video
game tournaments in the near future.
Assistant brewer Todd M. Friedman,
who is also a junior anthropology ma
jor at the University, said he was excit
ed about The Dive's innovations.
"It has the potential to be something
completely new and unique," he said.
"It has an individual sense"
West was enthusiastic about bringing
in student patrons.
"The concept of The Dive evolved
/
and the library is more functional, it's
just added to it, reinforced it made it
a lot better."
Ward 3 City Councilor David Kelly,
who represents the University area, also
attended the grand opening.
"Downtown is, and ought to be, the
heart of the city," he said. "It ought to
be the one neighborhood where every
body can feel at home in, when they go
out that that's the place to go ."
Steven Neuman is a freelance reporter
for the Emerald.
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