Somebody recently asked me if I had ever been to the Hole In The Wall bar in Pekin, Illinois. I had to confess that I never have. If memory serves me right and if this is the same place, I think this is one of the area’s oldest dive bars. Unless this is a new reincarnation of the place. There’s only one way to find out...to the MBIP Mobile!
Okay, we're off and running...well, driving. This is a first, we've never done a "Two Beers" night in Pekin, so I'm looking forward to this. The bar is a straight shot down Route 29, we'll be there shortly, Mortly.
Here we are, this place has been here since 1977 and I'm anxious to take a look at it. I think this is the oldest dive bar in the Pekin area. So let's go in and see what's happening inside of The Hole In The Wall.
Okay, as you can see, we're back on the road. All I can say is that there were some technical difficulties at The Hole In The Wall. It was everything I had hoped it would be, a classic dive bar, but we have to wait a week or two to see if we can take pictures in there. They were nice and I'm hoping we can return, but for now we're on the road again, in search of a bar to do our two beers thingy.
I saw this bar on the way into Pekin, the lights in the window are on, so let's go inside and start this edition of "Two Beers."
Motherfucker! The door is closed. The sign says they're open till 11PM, and it's just 10:40PM.
Lights on, nobody home. Son of a fucking bitch. We're not having much luck tonight and I'm getting pretty thirsty.
Just like Elvin Bishop, it's time to put on our traveling shoes and try to find a bar to have a couple of beers at. Sometimes it's a little frustrating doing this blog. At this point, I'm a little tired and I really just kind of feel like going home, but that would make for a boring post, so it's onwards we travel. Ugh.
Now we're in East Peoria and we're being held up by a train crossing. Seven minutes of my life I'll never get back. I'm really ready for a drink!
Okay, the train finally crossed and we're back on the road again. We've been traveling close to an hour now and I have a destination in mind....
Donnelly's Irish Pub. If it's not open, then fuck it, we're going home and having two beers with The Angriest Ice Machine In The World. And that's never pretty, so let's hope they're still serving drinks in here!
I'm a little scared, because the parking lot looks a little desolate, just two cars in the whole lot and it is a little late for a Thursday night...
Time for the moment of truth, the door awaits...
He shoots and scores! The place is open and I think I see a familiar face at the bar...
Okay, we're all settled in and friendly bartender Bob serves up the first beer of the evening. Finally things are starting to work out!
Here's a shot of our tenderloin table. Memories!
Oh deer!
As you can see, there's a good selection of beer here at the taps. I think they may get a good rating from the official Spike-O-Rama rating meter.
Here's a long shot of the marble-topped, wooden framed bar. After a rough start, the night turned out great and I had a great time talking with Kramer, Bob and Becca at the bar.
I have to confess, this fightin' Irish guy is one of my favorite things in the bar!
And here's Bob with the second beer of the evening and the traditional two finger salute. We'll see you all tomorrow...and hey...let's be careful out there!
Donnelly's Irish Pub
4501 N. Rockwood Drive
Peoria
309-693-3735
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Related Posts: Two Beers @ Tavern On Prospect, The Last Hurrah and Whitey’s Tip Top Inn.