Quick internet search shows it may be Grapevine Tavern.

"Say hello to what might be Jersey City's oldest bar." I mean yeah I guess.

But downtown's oldest bar probably isn't actually that old, couldn't be right? It's probably something like Barge Inn or Keyhole?

Good point about downtown. I guess back in the day Journal Square was the happening hub of JC.

https://www.jerseycityupfront.com/rolons-bar-to-reopen-as-the-keyhole-by-end-of-month/

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Probably is Grapevine. Which, I ashamed to say, I have never heard of until this moment.

Probably is Grapevine. Which, I am ashamed to say, I have never heard of until this moment.

Yeah, I had never heard of it either!

I think the Rolan>>Keyhole thing is something to think of, if it's the same spot same liquor license does it count. This is why I was asking because NYC has various shades of answers, like longest at current location, longest operating (but moved a few times), ect ect.

I've walked by the Grapevine and was intrigued but never stepped inside.

I wouldn't have guessed it was the oldest bar in JC - needed google to remind me of its existence.

Grapevine has liquor license #1 (As inthe first issued in JC)

It is. At one time, there was a big blow up of its liquor license on the wall. I'm not sure if it's still on the wall. IIRC, its #101 or something similar.

Could be Healey's on Newark and 6th or 7th. It used to have a different name, and it was closed for a long period of time in the 80s and 90s.

The bars that are now Lighthorse and Iron Monkey have been bars for about 100 years. Just not the same owners, not the same names, closed for stretches (including prohibition), but were always bars from what I understand.

edit: Also does Keyhole count since it was Rolon's before then sold? Barge Inn may be the answer. Or how old is Indio's?

And the drinking life on the Square was centered on the Tube Bar on the "Concourse" abutting the old bus station that fronted on Sip Avenue.

/u/anthonyolszewski Do you know what would be the oldest bar in each neighborhood?

I have been told that The Grapevine is the oldest. Perhaps the NJ Room can provide more information: https://www.jclibrary.org/resources/new-jersey-room/

I thought Fanelli's would be the NYC answer as it's the same bar, same name, same location, and operated continuously.

Grapevine is great. It's a true local, the same family has run it for a long time. The daughter told me her dad, who is in his 90s, only finally stopped bartending last year! They are really nice people.

This is the conversation I wanted to start going, hopefully someone is as curious as I am to piece things together.

I assume first issued post prohibition? Nice! Now I'm wondering if they still number that way, and if I can see a list (even though the oldest liquor licenses probably aren't at the same physical location today, as they allowed them to move sometime in the 80s or 90s rather than be chained to a location)

They build it up so it was the glittering night jewel of modernity, with the large theaters & movie palaces, visible from the brand spakin new interstate on your way to the brand new tunnel to NYC. Car culture's overlayed on our DNA in some ways.

Def the first issued post prohibition which is a cool claim to fame! I never thought about the fact that liquor licenses can switch physical locations, so it makes sense that the current location of the bar isn’t necessarily the longest standing watering hole.. this is gonna see me on a hunt cuz this is a really great question and a fun conversation starter! I wonder if historic preservation would be able to shed some light on it?