Even during the area’s more dangerous days, Bronx Bar was a refuge, more than one story of those days referring to the Detroit dive bar as a safe spot if it could be arrived at safely. Ownership has bounced around a bit over the years, but George Jordan shepherded Bronx Bar through some of those tough years, first joining as a bartender in 1942 before eventually purchasing the space. The art deco-style neon sign seen above the front door today dates to that time period, thankfully preserved and maintained over the years. Windows were scarce back then, creating a number of pre-renovation stories that cite the dark, divey conditions within.
Ownership shifted to Paul Howard and partner Scott Lowell in 2001 and with that shift came a set of updates to the property, most visibly the wraparound front patio and adjoining garage-style doors that create a seamless indoor-outdoor footprint when the weather cooperates. The space within Bronx Bar today probably can’t be classified as a dive bar really thanks to a cleanup job and a host of small improvements that resulted in more a comfortable, neighborhood corner spot for a burger and a beer rather than a true dive bar.
The space is divided into two rooms, the main space dominated by the bar itself and a secondary area that houses overflow seating, a few original benches, the bar’s pool table and its renowned pair of jukeboxes that still use physical media and boast an extensive and diverse song collection. Up front, the curved formica bar feels like a diner counter turned bar, a fair statement given the small cook station set up in the corner behind the bar that works off of the prep room in a separated back area. Colored subway tile is prominent throughout the space, creating an upscale vibe inside without adding any dreaded pretention.