New Owners, Same Great Vibe
At some point in his life, odds were good that Tony Bronson would become a bar owner. Specifically, a bar owner in Superior. And there’s some symmetry involved with the timing of Bronson’s purchase, along with business partner Al Kurtz, of Jack’s Bar on Tower Avenue.
You see, it was 1926 — 100 years ago — that his great-grandfather opened Tony’s Tavern on Third Street. Bronson tended bar at the popular watering hole, which became Tony’s Cabaret in the 1930s.
“I am named after a Superior bar, so I feel it was my destiny to own a Superior bar,” Bronson says.
Bronson and Kurtz purchased Jack’s in October from Ron and Karen Geegan. Ron’s dad, Jack, was the original owner.
What was so appealing about the place? A number of things, but two of the biggies tugging at Bronson and Kurtz were the bar’s live music scene and clientele. Bronson says Tony’s Cabaret made the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest-running music gig at one establishment — local legend Frankie Cox played the trumpet and sang there consistently for 56 years. Jack’s is similarly well-known for featuring quality and diverse music. Being able to showcase and support homegrown musicians is gratifying, Bronson and Kurtz say.
“It adds energy to the room,” Bronson says, noting that live music is vital to sales growth. “The Twin Ports area is blessed with a lot of talented musicians. When you come into Jack’s, you’re going to see a gifted person, or group of people, that you enjoy. That’s a fun part of this job, is all the musicians who are anxious to find places to play. They come in and offer up their services. We’re happy to help newer bands establish their own followings.”
And then there are the blue-collar customers who epitomize loyalty.
“In my mind, Jack’s is one of the iconic Superior neighborhood working-class bars,” Bronson says. “Being associated with it, and now owning it, is something I have aspired to for a while.”
Added Kurtz: “It’s a bar I’ve went to for the last 30-some years, so one of the things for me was getting into a business I can enjoy going to every day.”
The difference now? Kurtz and Bronson often arrive so early in the morning it’s still dark out, so they can prep the place for its 6 a.m. opening and early bird customers.
For Kurtz, who owns several Erbert and Gerbert’s restaurants throughout the Twin Ports and whose family is behind Kurtz Catering, another part of the intrigue was the potential to add food beyond the fan-favorite Heggies frozen pizzas. For many, Jack’s is where you go after dinner. Kurtz would like to get you there for dinner.
“I want to make delicious food available at Jack’s,” he says, acknowledging that many of the details have yet to be determined. For example, will the food come from, say, a rotation of independent food trucks or one owned and operated by Kurtz and Bronson. They will take their time figuring that out.
The vibe at Jack’s is quaint, where old school mixes with hippie chic. Where you can get Pabst Blue Ribbon or a locally crafted brew from Earth Rider. Where the walls are adorned with signs from yesteryear (Pippins, Blackstone Cigar, Pontiac) and high-definition, flat-screen TVs. The brick building is deceptively big, featuring a vaulted ceiling with wood beams, the bar running almost the length of the interior.
It’s a place where you come for good beer, good pizza and good conversation. Bronson and Kurtz called to mind a Cheers-like atmosphere. Not every customer is a regular and not everybody knows your name, but it’s close.
“When we took over, it was our goal to keep things as similar as possible,” Bronson says. “We didn’t want there to be any change in the hours. We kept as many of the staff as wanted to stay. We wanted to keep the regular customers. It’s a bar that a lot of people have grown up in. It’s a neighborhood bar. We wanted to keep that as much as possible. It’s been fun getting to know the different crews of people who come through there.”
At the same time, Bronson and Kurtz want to attract new faces.
“In addition to the regulars, all of whom we love, we are hoping to expand the customer base a little bit,” Bronson says. “We want to show folks what an interesting, friendly and unique place Jack’s is.”
He and Kurtz say they often hear from people who finally decided to stop in after driving past Jack’s hundreds or thousands of times without giving it a second thought. How do you appeal to the first-timers or newcomers without alienating the long-time patrons?
“It’s a balancing act,” admits Bronson, whose day job is director of business development for the Grandma’s restaurants, where he’s worked for 39 years. “The people who have been coming here for years are the ones who have kept this business going. We want to make sure they’re comfortable; that’s something we’re interested in preserving. We’re not interested in any dramatic changes. But over time, let’s add a few more people here and a few more people there. Let’s add reasons for new people to come in, such as a different style of music or food. But always with an eye on taking care of the regular customers.”
Superior is well-known for its density of bars. You can’t go real far in any direction without passing by or stumbling into one. Bronson and Kurtz know that means their existing customers, and potential new ones, have a wealth of options. And each place has its own niche — dancing, mouth-watering food, a good game selection, etc. The trick is to carve out your own space, to do something and do it well.
One of the differentiators for Jack’s is its beautiful, expansive and partially covered patio. It’s a great outdoor venue for live music during the warmer months. It’s also home to the self-described “best beer garden in the Twin Ports.”
“I think the patio sets us apart from the rest,” Kurtz says. “Other bars can try to mimic what Jack’s has done for years, but without that privacy, without the climate control, without the tables and chairs and live music, it’s hard to duplicate. I think that’s what sets us apart.”
Bronson agreed.
“I think it’s the nicest outdoor bar in this area,” he says. “It’s a great venue for music and it’s a great venue for just being outside and enjoying a wonderful Superior day.”
Kurtz and Bronson are excited about the purchase, thrilled to be co-owners of a place they’ve long frequented. Jack’s has a reputation as the “world’s biggest little bar.” Indeed, it’s unique in so many ways. The bar’s new bosses can’t wait to build on its solid reputation and write the next chapter for Jack’s. That’s sure to include being a willing community supporter.
“Coming into this, we wanted to be a part of the community,” Bronson says. “And that is being there when the community is in need. That is being a place the community wants to gather at. Al and I are both lifelong residents of Superior, know a lot of people in Superior, want to help a lot of people here. Jack’s has allowed us to follow through on those passions of ours.”
Louie St. George II is a freelance writer based in Duluth.
