Imagery of the original Wally’s Lounge shows as basic a storefront as possible, a space so stark that discerning whether a bar was inside or not probably required actually trying the door handle. Today, Reed’s Local sports a fresh awning, a bit of work to the exterior of the building and even a dog-themed painting out front inscribed with “Be Nice!” The Wally’s Lounge sticker has been scratched off of the trim around the bar’s lone exterior window, a very dive bar-friendly way to honor the prior tenant. And if there was any doubt as to the presence of a bar within, a large Hamm’s mural dominates one of the building’s brick walls reading, “Hello, and have a Hamm’s!”
Walking inside feels like walking into the best parts of Wally’s Lounge with the kinds of renovations and improvements that only accentuate the space rather than cover it up. Wood paneling stretches behind the bar the runs along the left wall of the front room, wood shelving propping up an old Schlitz globe light and more than one (perhaps defunct) lava lamp. Framed photos behind the bar mix with the lineup of available beers, the occasional bumper sticker or beer sign at times making an appearance. All of it combines to make a very dive bar-friendly look despite the 2014 opening date. The balance struck here is maybe best demonstrated through fresh copper mugs for mule-like drinks one shelf below two vintage Schlitz serving trays.
The bar counter is capped off by a TV and honest to goodness VCR at one end that features a rotating set of classic, sometimes slightly obscure movies (Scream 2 was playing during my visit, inserted just after the conclusion of Buffy the Vampire Slayer). The front room is well populated with wall art that mixes old staples like neon beer signs with fresh paintings depicting more contemporary subjects like Jack White. A few games fill the space in this front room among a handful of hightop tables, pinball in one corner and the very dive-bar-underrated bubble hockey in the middle of the room.