6 old-school Twin Cities bars that might stand in for Palmer’s

Let’s be clear: Nothing is going to replace Palmer’s Bar. That’s impossible.

The last bar people really cared about in the Minneapolis West Bank scene, Palmer’s is just one of those rare places that has an uncanny mix of structural, historical, musical and spiritual character (to some of us, anyway) that can never be matched.

The human characters are something, too. You never quite knew if the person at the bar next to you at Palmer’s wanted to hug you, hump you, ruthlessly ignore you, talk your ear off or slice your ear off. That was part of the fun.

After Sunday’s daylong farewell bash, Palmer’s will be no more. Opened in 1906 as Carl’s Bar, its historic two-story building has been sold to neighboring Dar Al-Hijrah mosque, which plans to convert it into a community center.

It’s one in a string of bars bought up by Muslim American neighbors in the immigrant-rich Cedar-Riverside neighborhood and shut down as a watering hole. See also: the Triple Rock, 400 Bar, Nomad World Pub (nee 5 Corners Saloon) and — as of last month — the Corner Bar/Comedy Corner Underground.

Palmer’s owners Sarah and Pat Dwyer had to sell or go bankrupt. They got into a bad deal with a former partner, tried to recoup lost money but couldn’t because bars like theirs everywhere are hurting from lowered alcohol consumption, rising costs and taxes.

With those hardships in mind, we thought it more worthwhile to focus on the cool, old, music-centric dive bars still left in the Twin Cities rather than dwell on the unfortunate loss of Palmer’s. These are places similar in size, aesthetic and spirit(s), including their affinity for hosting live music (not offered at some of other legendary local dives such as the CC Club and Grumpy’s).

It’s not as old or odd as Palmer’s, but this Lake Street area mainstay is pretty dang historic (opened in 1932) and can boast a mighty weird scene on the right night. It’s as big on live music as Palmer’s, too. A sure sign of that: Cornbread Harris and his band are going to resume their Church of Cornbread gigs they’ve been playing every Sunday afternoon at Palmer’s. Music is offered five nights a week without a cover. Monthly regulars include scene vets Maurice Jacox, Jiggs Lee and the Swamp Poppas.

(2901 27th Av. S., Mpls., schoonertavern.com)

Not only does this northeast Minneapolis staple boast the same talent buyer for its live music as Palmer’s (punk musician Christy Costello) and a similar array of vintage beer signs, but also it shares a similar beer-centric history. Both sites opened in the early 1900s as “tied houses” — bars that exclusively sold certain brands of beer — in this case Grain Belt, whose original brewery still looms gorgeously across the street. Alas, there’s not really a stage, but bands make do in a booth area across the room from where the famed Hot Dago sandwiches are baked; just go with it, pc people.

(1319 Marshall Av. NE., Mpls., dustysbaranddagos.com)

Yep, still open. Nope, hasn’t changed much. Run by the same family since 1932 — they even still keep it closed on Sundays — this rugged old-reliable of a saloon hasn’t been gentrified like a lot of its neighboring storefronts in the southern tip of northeast Minneapolis. Its wood paneling and foam-pieced ceilings seem straight out of grandpa’s basement. And its stage is still often full, though with more alt-twang and songwriterly acts and less of the mayhemic punk of years past and open-mic comedy on Thursdays.

There’s a Palmer’s-like cross-section of unpretentious but sometimes boisterous customers and rootsy musicians who frequent this low-frills Irish pub. Housed in a former trucker bar and cafe space along University Avenue, it dates back to 1933. The music skews Irish — very Irish in the case of the Sea Shanty Sing every Monday night — but it can still get pretty rowdy and bawdy.

(2162 University Av. W., St. Paul, thedublinerpub.com)

The University Avenue bar space formerly known as Christensen’s Big V — a name likely to induce a wicked grin or a weary wince from older punk scenesters — got a needed facelift alongside its ownership change in 2019. Now, the vibe harkens back a bit more to the building’s late-1800s roots. The music is more refined and old-fashioned, too, with blues and twang acts on the calendar alongside Wednesday happy-hour gigs by acoustic guitar ace Pat Donohue. Like the Dubliner, it’s right off the Green Line, too.

(1567 University Av. W., St. Paul, themidwaysaloon.com)

Opened in 2021 by the owners of the 331 Club in northeast Minneapolis — which has its own Palmer’s-like array of customers and characters — this cozy little hideaway might seem too new and, um, nice to make this list. But it actually boasts a cool history and is housed in a former saloon building from 1888 that was also long the home of the Fort Road Federation. The bar has a very Palmer’s-like approach to its adventurous music bookings, too, including occasional shows outside on its patio. And there’s something about the stretch of W. 7th Street it’s on that feels reminiscent of the Palmer’s of old, too, with several other old-school bars and other historic buildings. Who knows? Maybe West 7th could become the new version of the old West Bank?