"Teach's Pub"
Raleigh, NC - December 2008 (Click to embiggen)
Mitch's Tavern has been in this same location on Hillsboro Street for ... well as long as I can recall anyway. It's up a flight of stairs perched atop a now-defunct bar that was allegedly purchased by Mitch several years ago and sat idle ever since. One rumor say Mitch bought the place to keep anybody from opening a competing bar. Can't confirm or deny myself, though it doesn't seem out of the question.
I first met the proprietor, Mitch, in 1976 when I was a junior in high school. Only at that time I knew him as "Mr. Hazouri". And as gruff as you might find him as a restaurateur, imagine being in his chemistry class as a student. Yeah, my high school chem teacher owns a slightly notorious bar on Hillsboro Street.
The notoriety comes in part from the bar's 15 minutes of fame in Hollywood. Wade back through the mists of history to 1987 and the Kevin Costner/Tim Robbins/Susan Sarandon film Bull Durham. Remember the scene where Costner meets Robbins for the first time? In the bar? Yep. That's Mitch's. But it was never identified in the movie probably because Hollywood somehow magically transported the place to Durham -- 25 miles away. Not bad work if you can get it.
After reading dozens of reviews, I only found two complaints. The first one was apparently from someone who thought Mitch was a little too interested in squeezing money out of the place to improve it. I'm skeptical about that one myself, since every other reviewer I read exclaimed about how reasonable the prices were compared to other establishments in the area. The second complaint was that there were no booster/child seats. Hello? It's a bar. Not exactly a lot of demand for booster bar stools, ya know? Not literally anyway.
My recommendation? Try it for yourself. And that's all I'm gonna say about it.
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23 comments:
Great strategy to buy the competition before it happens! :D
Cool place. No booster barstools? Qu'est-ce que quelque chose de terrible!!
You perpetually amaze me with your ability to capture these public places without people cluttering up your shots!
We have booster seats in our bars. :) But then again I live in beer's birthplace. :)
Bull Durham, eh? I'll have to watch it again, it's been a while! But that's cool! Yeah, I didn't think kids were allowed in bars anyway! Especially not young enough to have to use a booster seat! Jeez!
Great pic Mojo, i'd love to toss back a few at that establishment.
Have a great week!
Guy
Regina In Pictures
what a fab post with history to boot! next time i watch bull durham i will have to have my recall mind in order ;)
thanks for sharing with us...enjoyed
What a great post! And I agree -- no people!! how do you do it? Really interesting history, sure wouldn't mind dropping in for a quick one or two or three -- well, great atmosphere is hard to find!
You always do it up good, Mojo! No exception here! Thanks!
LOL on the second complaint. Quick find the person who complains and ask why he/she needs to bring a child to a bar???
So you go there now and your old teach gives you a free beer?
Where everyone knows his name
A nice place to go to escape the vertically challenged. I like it. Now I want a pint. Think I'll go get one...unless Mitch is serving.
A neat photo with a little history thrown in.
Interesting!
Thanks for sharing.
Have a great week.
Visit That’s My World Tuesday
Very nice photo with an interesting bit of history to boot!
Looks like a great place to have a tall cool one. Nothing like preempting the competition! Nice bit of history.
Nebraska Birding
Guess who will have some more Kudos next time I'm down my own local bar. What a cool film to be associated with. Great potted quirky history a teacher, a film, a bar and tops on the photo swathed in such light.
Great memories with the photo, the little bits of info makes the photo very meaningful!
Hi Mojo,
It's not that much of a stretch to go from Chem teacher to bar owner - he's still mixing concoctions, after all. (And making lots more money doing it!) Fun post. (I'm still stuck on your Statue of Liberty post - is that yard ornament still there?)
love the story. i just think that by the looks of it though, that could be a highly successful bar...
The complaint about the lack of booster seats may have come from a little person with a drinking problem, ya know. :O
Looks like a very cool place. I enjoyed the narrative, too.
I linky-loved you on My World Post, as my photos are now, thanks to you, perfectly sized! (hug)
It sounds like Mitch's place is a bit different sitting on top of another defunct bar, it adds a bit of interest and if the prices are reasonable, n wonder it has lasted so long.
Very interesting history, especially about Bull Durham!
I thought first that it don't appear that inviting a place but the mention of Kevin Costner made it instantly more attractive to me.
Enjoyed reading your resume of this place.
Interesting looking place. Funny that someone would complain about no booster seats!
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