Downtown Los Angeles, oh, how you keep the world on its toes! Just when we thought the last call had echoed for eternity at our beloved Bar 107, a new beacon of boozy, unpretentious fun has risen from the ashes.
Could it be? Had the legendary haven, helmed by the unforgettable Vee Delgadillo and Brian Traynam and their award-worthy team of merriment makers, come back???
Upstairs at Uncle Ollie’s – photo Keri Freeman for DT Weekly
For those who remember the electric hum within those walls of Bar 107, located within the bowels of Hotel Barkley on 4th and Main, the DJ’s uncanny ability to weave sonic frenzies that sent dancers into orbit mixed with the cheap well drinks, and the abrupt silence following its mysterious closure felt like a missing beat in the city’s rhythm.
The iconic white padlock keyhole, a portal to countless nights of glorious chaos, vanished too, sparking neighborhood whispers of grand larceny.
It was a sad tune for the old guard, those who knew that Bar 107 wasn’t just a bar; it was a feeling.
Fast forward almost a decade. Like a phoenix (albeit one that probably enjoys a stiff drink), the spirit of Bar 107 has not only survived but has found a new perch.
High above the gritty charm of Escondite, another beloved dive bar in SkidTokyo, on San Pedro and Boyd, known for its taxidermied menagerie of moose, deer, and geese, a new chapter is unfolding, and it’s called Uncle Ollie’s.
Free parking, a smoking lounge for those who partake, the reassuring presence of security, and the promise of live DJs make Uncle Ollie’s not just the perfect resurrection but an upgrade!
View from the Bar at Uncle Ollie’s – photo by Keri Freeman for DT Weekly
Now, about this new moniker: Uncle Ollie’s. Intriguing, right? When the ever-so-direct General Manager, Lauren Nicole, was quizzed on the mysterious Uncle Ollie, her response was pure, unadulterated gold: “Nobody knows and nobody cares, but when Uncle Ollie shows up the party is over.” Consider us intrigued and slightly terrified.
Familiar faces grace the bar once more, with the much-loved downtown cyclist turned bar manager, Aaron Groome, slinging drinks, and our favorite DJ spinning the tracks that ignite the dance floor.
While a recent Friday night might not have been shoulder-to-shoulder in the new space, the energy is there, the potential palpable.
Uncle Ollie’s is the new and old kid on the block, perched upstairs with a killer city view and the same warm, welcoming vibe we remember.
Don’t expect a moment of relaxation for the senses. Uncle Ollie’s is complete with all of Bar 107’s long-lost fixtures. Stuffed jackalopes, flea market treasures, vintage collectibles, the one and only giant white horse, red velvet booths, and yes, even some scantily dressed mannequins.
And for those who crave a nostalgic singalong, the mix of booze and familiar anthems of the ’80s and ’90s are back in rotation, promising the most glorious, slightly off-key group serenades.
Ode to the Escondite!
Dive Bar winner “Return of the Mac” shown here on Good Friday minus the bacon – photo by Keri Freeman
Downstairs, the culinary delights of Escondite await, complete with playfully named dishes and, crucially, prices that won’t make our wallets weep.
Won’t find fancy Old Fashions or high-priced Cosmos here or upstairs—the closest they get may be the Day Drunk Special for $15, a Miller High Life with a shot of tequila and a pair of Escondite sunglasses.
The menu delights just the same; Return of the MAC’s four-cheese creamy mac topped with bacon and Ritz cracker crumbles is one of the best MNC dishes in the city, its memory managing to escape the morning brain fog brought on by the intense night of drinking.
Overall, Escondite and Uncle Ollie’s together is a dive bar mecca for those who appreciate originality, a welcoming embrace, and a night out that doesn’t require a second mortgage.
The Story Behind the Story
Because the story of Bar 107 is a tangled, fascinating one, reports from the not-so-distant past paint a picture of a beloved dive facing a bitter end. The original Bar 107 wasn’t just any old watering hole. It was a community cornerstone that fell victim to a landlord dispute back in April of 2015.
The owner at the time, Vee Delgadillo, lamented the changing landscape of downtown, feeling that the “average” Joe and Jane were being priced out in favor of $20 cocktails and a more polished clientele. Out of several bars owned by Vee at the time, interestingly, Bar 107 itself had a past life. First opening on July 6, 2005, in the very spot that was once Score, downtown’s oldest gay bar.
By April 2024, the space that once housed Score and then Bar 107 was slated to become Kiso, downtown’s newest LGBTQ+ bar and club, under the ownership of Brad Nitz, reclaiming downtown’s oldest gay bar.
So, who in Downtown will appreciate Uncle Ollie’s the most?
Undoubtedly, the old downtown faithful. Those who remember a time when the Historic Core was a different beast, its promise undeniably vibrant.
While some may have traded late-night revelry for the joys (and exhaustion) of family life, there’s a strong chance a few of those early children were conceived after a memorable night fueled by strong drinks and questionable dance moves at the original Bar 107. And then there’s hipsters.
Upstairs at Uncle Ollie’s, with the city lights twinkling in the background, there’s a sense of recaptured magic, a familiar yet refreshed energy fully noting that sometimes the best stories have a second act.
