First Ward
TOP BARS
an eclectic neighborhood
neighborhood
apothecary ale house & Cafe Biggest beer selection. No one’s a stranger. 227 Chestnut Street
crockett’s lodge Food, beer, and a laid-back atmosphere. 3395 University Avenue
gene’s beer garden Beer, hot dogs, and live music. 461 Wilson Avenue
Mario’s fishbowl A fishbowl of beer and good company go a long way. 704 Richwood Avenue
Mundy’s public house New, improved, and 100+ beers. 669 Madigan Avenue
suncrest cafe Known as The Nickel, get a burger on Texas Toast. 3192 Collins Ferry Road
town hill tavern Have a 34-ounce domestic beer and a steak sandiwch. 998 Willey Street
varsity club Sports fan or not, 100+ beers and good eats. 910 Willowdale Road
The New Mundy’s M u n dy’s Pu b l i c H o u s e i s n o t w h at yo u t h i n k . I t’s b e t t e r . i n t h e m i ddl e of t h e w e e k , it’s quiet inside Mundy’s Public House in First Ward. The bartender and owner chat as reruns of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia play in the background. More than 100 beers fill the menu, and there are hot dogs with homemade chili and popcorn with a plethora of possible seasonings. Board games, books, and video game systems are on standby. If you’ve lived in Morgantown awhile, you might be confused. “It is really hard to rehab the reputation of the place,” says owner Eric Brown, who bought the building in December 2012 and reopened the old bar as Mundy’s Public House in summer 2013 after extensive renovations. Mundy’s is one of the oldest bars in town, dating back to 1949 and named for its original owner, Mundy Liberatore. Over the years it’s had several owners and seen tough times. “This place was a hellhole,” Eric laughs. “It needed massive amounts of work.” Eric grew up in the neighborhood, moved to Pittsburgh to go to culinary school, and moved back to the First Ward neighborhood years later. Even he didn’t like going to Mundy’s. “It was rough. When I found out they were interested in selling I jumped at the chance. I just wanted a nice place for people in the neighborhood to come.”
Eric loves craft beer and has made it his mission to get as much as he can while not alienating anyone. He offers bottles from Rogue Ales, Great Lakes Brewing, and dozens of beloved craft breweries as well as Bud Light bottles, Pabst Blue Ribbon tall boys, and even a selection of wine. And his taps are always rotating. Local bands play on weekends with no cover charge—they pass a hat for donations. They play on a stage Eric built after he ripped out an old gambling room. Mundy’s also hosts open mic nights every first and third Thursday of the month, and the bar often hosts private events. In the middle of an eclectic neighborhood, Mundy’s caters to townies, students, and newcomers alike. “What I tried to do is make a place where every single person is welcome and can have fun and feel safe. general Area This place was notorious for fights before. We’ve had exactly one since I took over, and that was the first week.” Eric says he changed the name to Mundy’s Public House to reflect his hopes. “The word pub comes from public house,” he says. “The original public houses in England were a gathering place for the neighborhood to come together, drink homemade beer, and talk about neighborhood issues. That’s what I want this place to be. A place where people can get together, have fun, and drink beer.”
Dorsey Avenue to Greenbag Road
Schools Mountainview Elementary, South Middle, & Morgantown High
interesting fact Giant oil tanks in White Park were struck by lightning and caught fire at least five times between 1899 and 1939. You can see photos at Morgantown History Museum.
morgantownmag.Com
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