Jack and Dan's Tavern has been a Gonzaga neighborhood staple for over six decades.
Its two-story brick building has been in place for more than 125 years. Built in 1909 for the Pioneer Educational Society, it was converted into a pub in 1933, after prohibition. In 2006, it was placed on the Spokane Register of Historic Places, commemorating its rich history.
"When things get worn, we keep that historic look," said current co-owner, Kevin MacDonald. "You don't want to mess with the interior."
But given its age, the building has benefited from some upgrades.
"The building is pretty old," said Kevin. "There were various outdated light fixtures throughout that used more electricity than they should."
That won’t be a problem anymore, thanks to a recent lighting upgrade from Avista’s Small Business Lighting program.
Avista's program offers small business owners a way to update old inefficient lighting with little to no out-of-pocket expenses. An approved program contractor takes care of the installation and all the details.
The lighting improvements enhanced the ambiance of the 5,000-square-foot neighborhood tavern., too.
"The charm of the place is it stayed pretty much the same over the years," said long-time customer Joseph "Pat" Tully. "There are so many other things changing. It's nice to have something remain constant."
At 103, Pat has been coming to the Spokane landmark for over 70 years. He recalls visiting the bar in the early 1950s, when it was known as Joey's.
When Jack Stockton and Dan Crowley took ownership in 1961 and changed the name to Jack and Dan’s in the early 1970s, Pat remained one of its regulars. He still visits weekly to enjoy a meal and the rich fellowship the place is known for.
Named one of Sports Illustrated's 25 best sports bars, the historic venue features 18 big-screen televisions and a 25-beer tap list. It attracts Gonzaga students, sports fans and visitors from around the globe. Celebrities like Bing Crosby, Muhammed Ali, and Dave Matthews have even been customers over the years.
Jack's son, John Stockton, was a star player for the Utah Jazz and neighboring Gonzaga Bulldogs. During his 19-year NBA career, the tavern drew capacity crowds on game days.
"If you weren't at Jack and Dan's for the basketball game, then you weren't in the right place," laughs Kevin.
Decades later, there is still standing room only on 'Zags' game days.
Kevin and his partner, Jeff Condill, are Gonzaga graduates. They pride themselves on a 'hands-on' approach to the business and maintaining Jack and Dan's legacy.
"Our motto is 'Where Good Friends Meet,'" said Kevin. "It's like the TV show Cheers, where everyone knows your name. Jeff and I can probably name 80 percent of the people here on any given day."
"Everybody knows about Jack and Dan's," said Pat. "They have good food, and I know almost everybody there. They have great service and a well-run establishment."
With new lighting, Jack and Dan’s is now running more efficiently. Avista covered the tavern’s entire $19,250 energy-efficient lighting upgrade. The new lights are estimated to save over 34,656 kWh of electricity each year, amounting to nearly $3,700 in energy savings for the Spokane small business.
"We have seen savings compared to last year," said Kevin.
It’s easy for Avista small business customers in Washington and Idaho to qualify for the program. Plus, Avista typically covers 100% of the project costs.