| rev:text
| - If there ever was a local watering hole I could call home, my home away from home, a cozy family owned bar that is as comforting as it is charming, DePompei's in downtown Bedford would be it.
DePompei's is a 3rd generation family owned business. I've been patronizing "DePomp's" as long as I was old enough to know about it. It's the type of bar that every town should have, but not all do. It's the type of bar that movie scripts are written about. The type of bar that folk lore and ancient stories always begin. A place to celebrate occasions or quite simply just making it through another tough day.
Blaise DePompei, as recently seen in a Ghoulardi tee is the acting owner. He's there everyday except Sunday (closed on Sundays). Him and his family live in a room above the bar. He's been doing this as long as he can remember. This is his life. His father left him the bar when he passed. Before that, his grandfather started the venture over 75 years ago. Blaise confessed to me that he can't see it being able to survive a 4th generation. It's a different world today. The government has their hand in the pockets of every small business owner more so now than ever, liabilities and overhead also account for a bigger portion of his budget. Then there's the economy. People are cutting back. The influx of new people in the area are unsure of the unfamiliar brick facade of DePompei's ancient building. They'd rather go somewhere with a familiar name as advertised on TV or in print media. Charming it's not on the outside, but come on in for a beer or snack and I assure you, you'll feel right at home.
Everyone that entered DePompei's on my recent visit were greeted by name. They had the same menu, same cheap beer prices and same bartenders as I remember some 10 years previous. There aren't as many regulars as they once had though. Business seems to have slowed down over the recent years. Family's have moved out of Bedford and priorities have changed for some.
Blaise isn't looking to become rich and famous. He's a simple man. He just wants to survive another year. Myself and other familiar patrons would love to see this bar survive another generation. A pint of draft Pabst is only $1. A cold Bud Light is $1.50. A fancier import such as a Newcastle? $2 something. And those aren't Happy Hour prices either. Those are everyday prices. For food, try the Steak, Egg & Cheese sandwich. They've been doing it the same for a half a century; grilled steak sizzler meat, fried egg, melted cheese with lettuce, tomato and onion sandwiched in between two thick slices of freshly cut white bread. I get it every single time I go to DePomps.
If you're in the area and need a place to stop for a quick bite, stay a while to drink away your sorrows, or on the opposite end of the spectrum, celebrate a joyous occasion with your friends, I can't think of a better neighborhood bar than DePompei's. They have everything a proper bar should have; an adequate juke-box, pinball machine, popcorn machine, dart boards, wood paneling, a couple HD TV's, ancient Cleveland nostalgia on the walls, cheep beer, good eats and servers that will become like family by the time you leave.
And as Clarence, the angel from Bedford Falls (starkly similar to downtown Bedford, OH) once said in "It's a Wonderful Life", "Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends." At DePompei's everyone is your friend. No man is a failure here.
|
![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)
![[cxml]](/fct/images/cxml_doc.png)
![[csv]](/fct/images/csv_doc.png)
![[text]](/fct/images/ntriples_doc.png)
![[turtle]](/fct/images/n3turtle_doc.png)
![[ld+json]](/fct/images/jsonld_doc.png)
![[rdf+json]](/fct/images/json_doc.png)
![[rdf+xml]](/fct/images/xml_doc.png)
![[atom+xml]](/fct/images/atom_doc.png)
![[html]](/fct/images/html_doc.png)