Let's All Go to the Bar: Tappers Pub

The first in an occasional series on the dive bars, regular bars, taverns, pubs, and joints of St. Paul and the St. Paul metro area.

I have a spreadsheet called The Unsullied Project. Contained within are the names of bars I've never been to in my hometown of St. Paul and its nearby suburbs and exurbs. The goal is to sully them, make some observations, and offer a yes/no recommendation RE: future visits for myself and visitors.

I started doing this because we moved here in 2019 and didn't know shit about fuck, and then the pandemic started. Once we started venturing out again, we were thrilled to find any new place, even if they kinda sucked, because we weren't stuck inside anymore. And if you know St. Paul, you know there are a lot of bars. Hence the need for a spreadsheet and what turns out to be a great source for Tuesday newsletter content.

(I cannot find Bill Lindeke's St. Paul Dive Bar Guide anywhere online because the Star Tribune ate City Pages, but he has a couple pieces at his blog that are fantastic if you want to dig deeper on places like Alary's or The Bee Hive.)

I have some real go-getters in my social circle who would love to help fill the spreadsheet in now that the weather is improving, but I'm starting this series with a ringer, because it's the bar closest to our house and we like going there.

NAME: Tappers Pub.

WHERE: The corner of Annapolis and Stryker in West St. Paul.

IN BUSINESS SINCE: 1994. But the building's been there forever, opening in 1906 as Glowe's Bar. It was an American Legion in the '50s and '60s, and before its current iteration it was known as the Ann-Ker Bar, owned by the same couple that operated Moose Country (RIP) in Lilydale. Current owners Steve and Louie took over operations in 2016.

It hasn't always been so welcoming. A local musician once told me that her folks wouldn't let her drive her bike anywhere near it when she was growing up in the neighborhood.

ARE THERE WINDOWS: Yes. There are a series of small windows on the east wall. If you were so inclined, you could tell what time of day it is.

SEATING: 15-18 bar spots, 7-8 tables. Intimate!

FOOD: They have excellent house-made frozen pizzas (thin crust, tavern-style cut) sourced from a local Italian market. They also have chips, and someone will occasionally bring in a crockpot of sloppy joes. No deep fryer, no popcorn machine. Given the bar's small footprint, that's all the place would smell like, so be grateful for that and the smoking ban.

The most unique pizza is the Coney Island, which features a chili sauce, mozz, sliced hot dogs, mustard, and chopped onions. It is better than it has any right to be. Make sure you have Altoids on hand.

DRINKS: No blender drinks, no absurd Bloody Mary constructions, no bourbon program. Working-class bar, working-class prices. A pint of Surly Furious or Fulton 300 is $5.50 here. That is not the case elsewhere in town. One of the bartenders will make you a $7 martini. That's about as upscale as it gets. (It's good!)

HAPPY HOUR: No. There was one, but they changed their POS and the system can't ring in discounted booze.

PULLTABS: Video AND bins behind the bar AND a machine. If you wanted to spend your day gambling here, you could. And people do.

TOUCHTUNES: Yes.

STAFF: Best in the biz. Shout out to Ryan, Chris, Steve Miller (not the guitarist or the Nazi), Tommy Gunz with a "z", Ross, and the rest.

CLIENTELE: Reflects the neighborhood. During one recent visit there were hockey dads, the owners of a local Mexican restaurant, a priest, some college kids, and a couple bikers.

COULD I BRING MY GRANDMA THERE: Yes.

KARAOKE: No.

MEAT RAFFLE: Occasionally.

ROAMING TAMALE VENDOR: Yes.

DROP CEILING: You know it.

SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE: An infrequently updated Facebook page.

GAMES: One dart board. No billiards.

OTHER DETAILS: There is an upstairs event space for grad parties, quinceañeras, and the like.

RECOMMENDATION: Yes. I might even be there when you stop in.

HOUSEKEEPING

The first batch of merch has arrived! We'll be getting that sent out and/or dropped off at front doors this week!

That also means no Wednesday newsletter as we'll be handling this and getting the next round ordered. Barring World War III, I will see you back here on Thursday for Minnesota's 79th-best county.