eddie964 t1_j8u3eih wrote on February 16, 2023 at 11:18 PM

Reply to comment by nickyfatboi in Always surprised at lack of day drinking options by nickyfatboi

Shouldn't be an issue anymore. For a long time, it was a cop bar, and they were pretty picky about who they let in. Women were not allowed. (The reasoning supposedly was that the cops would go there after work, and if their wives knew they were at Contois, they could be sure they weren't messing around.)

It was real low-key. There was no sign or neon lights. My brother moved into an apartment right across the street in the late 1990s, and he didn't believe me at first when I told him there was a bar there.

The first few times I went in, I'm pretty sure they were keeping thge door locked, and I probably wouldn't have set foot inside except my friend had a connection. Even so, if memory serves, everyone stopped talking and stared at me. The owner -- I believe the father of the current owner -- was reputedly an ex-Navy Seal, and he certainly looked the part. Things got friendier once he got to know you.

Things got a lot more relaxed under the current ownership. They put in a low-key sign 10 years or so ago. And to my knowledge, they welcome anyone, male or female, as long as they behave respectfully.

justalilchili t1_j8uxkh7 wrote on February 17, 2023 at 3:02 AM

Woman here, I went once with no problems so pretty sure it’s fine now. 😂 Their cook was out the day we went though, which I’m kind of bummed about after reading the other comments.

Fun-Cockroach8339 t1_j8uzirx wrote on February 17, 2023 at 3:17 AM

Cops definitely went there but it was more of a blue collar bar than strictly a “cop bar”: railroad, water company, fd, PD, UI, etc. It also has its share of local politicos drink there. The ownership is the same family and rumor is that it’s the oldest liquor license in the state with the same name.