Wisteria Tavern plans to relocate to a “property with more favorable zoning,” according to Facebook post by owner Terry Abbott. The historic East Hill neighborhood bar will remain open “as long as it is feasible.”
The Wisteria Tavern is Pensacola’s oldest bar, celebrating 83 years this year. Abbott has owned it since 2004. It has been a perennial Best of the Coast finalist.
The bar has been grandfathered under the city’s zoning restrictions, which has limited its ability to expand or upgrade.
Abbott’s Post:
Dorothy from the wizard of Oz said it best.
“There’s no place like homeâ€
For many years I have considered the Wisteria Tavern home.
It was my island oasis and reembrace of a childhood memory. My memory was that of my grandparents driving me as a child through the “tree tunnel†on 12th Ave. I loved it every time I made the trip.
As fate would have it, I ended up having my first beer at a bar under those same trees on 12th. It was Fall of 1984 when a friend named Rick Thomsen and I skipped school from Wm J. Woodham High and went to the Wisteria. Sorry mom. I was hooked ever since.
Fate directed me again in 2004 when I purchased the Wisteria Tavern as an act to save it from certain destruction. I have spent countless hours making the best of friends and learning the life stories of countless people over the last 14 years. It has been my pleasure doing so.
Unfortunately, the pleasures have been outweighed by the stress of an ever dwindling revenue stream.
As Pensacola grew, so did the competition. The Wisteria has operated under a grandfather clause that allowed it to remain open although located in the middle of a neighborhood. It is that same grandfather clause that has sealed its fate. We cannot compete anymore.
We are NOT currently closed and plan on staying open as long as it is feasible.
The plan is to relocate into a property with favorable zoning that would allow us to make the changes to the bar that would allow us to compete.
Until the time comes for the 12th Ave location to stop being the Wisteria PLEASE COME IN AND HAVE A BEER or glass of wine. Tell us your best Wisteria story and enjoy good company.
We are smoke free so if you haven’t been in a while it’s pretty nice.
Sincerely
Bryan “Terry†Abbott
Proud owner of THE Wisteria Tavern.
