I was pretty shocked to learn that Montrose staple Ernie's on Banks abruptly closed their doors for good the other night. Ernie’s was a place I really dug. It was a strange place where I never felt really welcome, but I never felt unwelcome, either. Unfortunately, it’s one of the last cool/uncool places in Montrose and I’m sad to see it go. I know the last two sentences are pretty much oxymorons in themselves, but that seems fitting for Ernie’s. Upstairs was always louder while the downstairs almost seemed like a serene speakeasy. I frequently remember the more boisterous couples or friends coming to the downstairs bathrooms, always a bit noisier than the rest of the room. A few disgruntled looks over the shoulders from the regulars downstairs quickly quieted that noise, but in a most respectful way. It was understood.
My favorite place at the bar was right on the curve. I could easily face Sandy and talk to her, people watch the rest of the bar, keep an eye on the TV, while eavesdropping on the couple behind me at the touch screen trivia. This was also in close proximity to the chilled Jager and Patron machines which usually, if ordered from, meant the bartender was doing a shot with you.
Being a rum and coke guy, and having the ability to drink many in one sitting, Ernie’s ran a little expensive for me at times. This was really the only thing that kept me from being a regular. The place was clean, but not too clean. The bartenders were normally tatted up and friendly. They hung the sports page above the urinal, a too-often underappreciated décor. Since it was a KU alumni gathering spot for watching games, they had a Jayhawk sticker on the fridge.
The future of Ernie’s kind of scares me a bit, and you can read about it here. Hopefully, the new owners will remember what it meant to the people of Montrose as well as our neighborhood itself. With statements like “"We're not getting rid of Ernie's; we're gonna make it our place," and "It's still going to be a little two-story neighborhood bar...and then some." I’m a little worried.
