If you want a charming neighborhood tavern to kickback with friends, Ida's Pub offers a laid back, family-like atmosphere. The pub is very well kept, and is one of the higher-end pubs in Tacoma.
Ida's Pub includes a pool table, ping-pong table, dartboard, pull-tabs, 10 taps (5 domestic, 5 micro), a pinball machine, a jukebox with the widest selection of music in Tacoma and a big screen TV.
Every Wednesday there is free pool, 50-cent pounders (brand chosen by bar), and free snacks. They serve chips & salsa as well as hot dogs that are cooked up in a large crock-pot.
The pool table is completely open most of the time, unlike other places that have free pool. One evening about 9 p.m. a group of UPS college students rolled in and took over the pool and ping-pong tables.
On Saturdays there is usually a live band. The pub attracts people of all ages, from the college age to the golden age.
Ida's Pub is filled with pretty things to look at, including a whole bar line of toy cars and an aquarium of cute frogs. What is most interesting about this establishment is the way it is divided.
There are three sections that are divided by partial walls. Each section is at a different level, the entrance being the highest level and the farthest room being the lowest.
Ida Crow started the business almost four years ago, and now owns and runs it along with her son and grandson. She is very friendly and easy to talk to, as is her grandson, Jerry Crow. He is usually at the pub at least every week to make sure things run smoothly.
He said that his grandmother grew up in the Italian-Irish section of hilltop and has lived in Tacoma all of her 80 years. She started her pub after becoming a widow and working for 18 years at the Eagles.
Her son had always wanted to own a tavern and so she thought it was a good idea to start one up. Crow stated that business has been up and down along with the economy. Even with its ups and downs, Crow stated that she has never been sorry about starting it up.
Her grandson helps make and distribute fliers to bring more people in. Crow said her favorite part of her place is her clientele. "They all respect me," Crow said.
She has made many friends while working there and currently works the day shift everyday the pub is open. Crow's favorite part of the tavern is her clientele.
Ida's Pub has not had any major problems when dealing with drunken people. Perhaps growing up in Tacoma has made Crow perfect for the job of owning this cozy bar.
The only problem Crow encounters, is the ever-changing non-smoking law that will soon be in effect again. 90 percent of her customers are smokers and this law might hurt business.
She stated that this law is unfair and that if there were a democratic vote, things would be a lot different. It is true that people have the right to choose and that should be the main issue here, she said.
Crow stated that there are many non-smoking establishments that people can choose to go to if they do not wish to be around second hand smoke. Even though there were many smokers at the bar, the air did not seem very smoky. They have large fans that suck the smoke out from the ceiling. Ida's Pub appears to be isolated from the rest of the Tacoma nightlife. There are mostly old car shops near there. However, right up the hill is The Grand Cinema.
2008 Woodie Awards
