GARDEN CITY, Kansas – It’s been around for nearly 75 years. Now a private veterans club in Garden City has closed its doors.
"This place was built in 1936 by WWI veterans,” said Don Nevin, commander of American Legion Post #9.
After serving patrons Saturday night, the bar shut its doors.
"It was heartbreaking for everybody, I'm sure,” said Nevin. “You just hate to see a landmark like this shut down."
Lack of revenue has forced the bar closed. American Legion leaders say the state’s smoking ban drove up to half their patrons away. They also say many are now choosing to go to the state-owned Boot Hill Casino where smoking is allowed.
"They'll come in here and tell the veterans who went out and put their lives on the line that they aren't smart enough to decide for themselves whether or not they want to smoke, but it’s OK if you smoke in our casino,” said Nevin about the state.
Another reason for the closing is a much needed elevator to the basement club sits unfinished as more and more veterans struggle with mobility.
"It’s difficult for a lot of WWII vets, they aren't sturdy on their feet, they have walkers, they have wheelchairs," said Jim Arwine, American Legion adjutant.
American Legion leaders are hopeful they can come up with solutions to get the club reopened.
"Certainly the club committee, which we have, needs to explore more possibilities of more attendance, more patrons down here,” Arwine said.
They say veterans need a place like this where they can talk about things that no one but a fellow veteran would understand.
“I was introduced to the Legion because I needed that comradery,” Arwine said.
“You come into a place like this, you get to talk to someone who has been through what you've been through, been exposed to what you've been exposed to,” said Nevin.
The closing of the American Legion bar does not affect any of its other operations. Legion commanders welcome any support or suggestions on how to raise funds to reopen the bar.
