Editor’s Introduction: The word saudade is of Portuguese origin (its meaning/English pronunciation is in the hypertext), derived from the Latin word for solitude. The word well describes what Steve Butts writes here. He offers a nostalgic take on his home stomping grounds, Lansing-East Lansing, Michigan. (Fill in the blank with the name of your town or city.)
From “Death of the Neighborhood Bar” on Reddit
I’m nostalgic tonight. Some of the best nights of my life happened at Reno’s, and I am saddened that places like that are disappearing.
Whereas everyone else was cracking wise or hammering away at how awful both Reno’s and One North are/were, I remember Reno’s and other now-defunct Lansing locations like Coscarelli’s, The Irish Pub, Bonnie’s, Art’s Pub (the original) and Tripper’s fondly.
There was a time when it was fashionable to sit in a packed bar with a few hundred others while loud TVs blared as even more audible and drunker fans stirred up an exciting din. Today, neighborhood bars are a vanishing breed with the spread of high-definition televisions in the home with streaming platforms and near-endless entertainment choices. Just plain fashion has made going to a bar and watching increasingly obsolete.
Whether it is major college teams’ pro sporting events, the Olympics, wrestling, boxing, or MMA pay-per-view, sports cater to a diverse range of people’s needs at a mostly affordable price (that is, almost anyone can afford at least one beer or beverage). However, neighborhood bars became extinct when sports bars grew in popularity. These days, few places seem to exist where a group can gather because of a shared love of sports.
The reasons why people criticize places like Reno’s and One North are not entirely unfair, as no gourmand would choose those places for their food quality. But that may be changing.
The current situation may create a circumstance where neighborhood bars could eventually reemerge. Consider this. In my area, the failure of the business relationship between Bally’s and Comcast (and the implications for being able to view Detroit Tigers games as easily as we once did) is likely a window into our entertainment future. People tiring of that scenario might choose an alternative.
I hope so.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Steve’s commentary parallels the theme of Robert Putnam’s seminal sociological work, Bowling Alone. Putnam contends that we spend more time alone on matters that we once shared with others. Steve’s commentary focuses on how so many of us watch sporting events at home, often streaming them on subscription-based services, when we used to watch sporting events with family and friends at a neighborhood bar. Of course, many of us still gather with others, but many of us cannot because locally owned, stand-alone bars aren’t as plentiful as they once were, replaced (if replaced at all) by chain “sports bars,” like Buffalo Wild Wings and Hooters. In addition, there is a matter of social class. Steaming costs are becoming increasingly costly and out of reach for many viewers. Still, those who can afford those services often subscribe, while those who cannot are left behind. And there’s more…. Many (certainly not all) neighborhood bars are gathering spots for diverse customers, offering a social leveling opportunity as fans gather in their shared pursuit, namely, rooting for “their team.”
FROM WHITE HUTCHINSON: “One in six U.S. neighborhood bars closed between 2004 and 2014, with closures at a peak of six per day in 2014. Although 334 new bars open each month, that’s far fewer than the 609 that close at the same time. There are now 17% fewer bars, a decline of 10,000. Likewise, the British are losing their pubs. In 2002, there were an estimated 60,000 pubs. Since then, more than 10%—7,000—have closed. Experts say 29 go bust every week.”
