National Dive Bar Day

According to Danny "Goodguy" Mowrer, founder of National Dive Bar Day and owner of a dive bar that has been in the same family for generations, National Dive Bar Day is celebrated "to help recognize the history & value that dive bars bring to their local communities annually." He adds, "Your patronage to the corner bar that probably served your parents and grandparents is valued way more than going to a corporate owned chain or craft beer bar. We hope and need you to come more than once a year!"

Definitions vary as to what a dive bar is. Mowrer says they "must be a tavern over 30 years old and have bad lighting and characters inside." Dive bars are generally considered to be dingy, working-class bars, although people from all social stratifications are welcome to frequent them. The term shouldn't be overused: not every single small bar is a dive bar, and many bars that aren't dives are wrongly labeled as such. One definition from Urban Dictionary calls a dive bar "A well-worn, unglamorous bar, often serving a cheap, simple selection of drinks to a regular clientele." They aren't particularly clean, they aren't hip, and they aren't highbrow—they are called dives because they exist underneath society.

Many dive bars have a pool table and a jukebox, but they usually don't have a food menu, craft beer, or T-shirts with their name on them for sale. They are the type of place where one might have a shot and a beer. Many start out as another type of establishment that eventually falls in status or into disrepair, with their inventory changing, clientele shifting, and upkeep diminishing. Any number of factors can lead to this, such as outside forces like a change in the neighborhood, or internal disruptions like divorce, health issues, or financial difficulties. Dive bars have generally been off the cultural radar, though they appeared in pulp novels and noir films earlier in the twentieth century. In the 1980s, dive bars started seeping into the cultural mainstream. Films like Blue Velvet—starring Dennis Hopper—and Barfly—starring Mickey Rourke—were widely viewed. Barfly was based on a book by Charles Bukowski, an author and poet who wrote about low culture and the seedy underbelly of city life. In the late '80s, the word "dive" even began appearing in the names of bars.

How to Observe National Dive Bar Day

The most important thing you can do today is frequent a dive bar. Although there are many lists that say what some of the best are—such as "The 33 Best Dive Bars in America" and "The 50 Best Dive Bars in America"—the best dive bars probably can't be found on any list. They are likely a little more hidden and aren't being covered by any sort of press. Maybe you already have a favorite and you could go there today. Otherwise, go out for a walk in your neighborhood or drive around your city and try to find one.

There are other ways you could celebrate. One way is to try to help preserve a dive bar in your community. Sit down and have a chat with the owner, ask them about the history of the bar, ask them if they've had famous customers if anything particularly notable ever happened there, and why they wish to keep the bar open. Take photos and share them on social media with the hashtag #NationalDiveBarDay. Perhaps you could even ask local media if they would cover the bar, or ask the bar owner if you could host a happy hour or community event there. Ultimately, working to save dive bars is not just a one-day effort. Drink local and spend money in dive bars near you year-round!

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