Gohr said the idea wasn't some grand scheme he had been working on, but rather came from a simple off-the-cuff suggestion he made to some friends one night.
The $200 in quarters workers found behind the old front bar at Fitzwilly's was a nice discovery, but it probably didn't cover the cost of the massive facelift the Northampton venue just received.
Opened in 1974, Fitzwilly's was one of the original "fern bars" in the area, filled with all sorts of greenery from top to bottom. In the early days, there was a brass spittoon behind the front bar that was used for a contest of sorts: If a patron could toss a quarter into it, he or she would get a discount on a beer. Unfortunately, there was a small gap behind the bar where many of these quarters ended up until the bar was yanked out recently. The crew also found 22 padlocks behind the old bar from the days when they used to lock up the liquor at night
Since current owner Fred Gohr took over in 1988, the place has undergone a few minor renovations, but nothing as drastic as the new look the bar now boasts.
“We changed the carpet once and closed last year to update the kitchen and the back of the house, but nothing like this," Gohr said. "It was time for change."
The venue closed for four days at the end of January, during which a crew ripped out the old front bar and carpet, installed a new bar and flooring, as well as dramatic lighting along the bar back. Other minor changes also took place and the renovations won't be totally complete for another few weeks, after they update the back bar.
Gohr said the idea wasn't some grand scheme he had been working on, but rather came from a simple off-the-cuff suggestion he made to some friends one night. Pointing to a structure that had been hanging from the ceiling for decades, he said, "I think I'm going to take that down." When his friends liked the idea, the concept of further changes started to take off.
Of course, once Gohr decided to make the more drastic visual alterations, some older regulars demurred.
"They said 'Fitzwilly's has been here for 40 years. You can't mess with it,'" he said. “But just as much, I heard that it could use some freshening up."
Once the naysayers saw the results, however, they were wowed by the changes.
"The people who were hesitant at first said that it was really cool and they really liked it," Gohr said.
Maybe the biggest change since the venue's early days was discovered on old 1970s menus workers found behind the bar.
"A beer 70 cents was and a martini was $1.50." Gohr said with a laugh.
Longtime bartender Jeff Spooner liked the updates.
"They did a great job," he said. "The only old thing here they didn't renovate is me."
Fitzwilly's is at 23 Main St. in Northampton.
Scouting report
The Wildcat O'Halloran Band returns to Snowzee's in Sunderland on Feb. 16. Snowzee's is at 330 Amherst Road.
Local bands Fiesta Brava and The True Jacqueline will be joined by L.A. indie rockers Broken Anchor at The Elevens on Feb. 20. The Elevens is at 140 Pleasant St. in Northampton.
Blues Foundation award-winner Dave Keller brings his band to Theodores' at 201 Worthington St. in Springfield on Friday night. The Dave Keller Band takes the stage at 9:30 p.m.