Wednesday Wondering: Where Everybody Knows Your Name

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RIP, George Wendt.

George Wendt, who bellied up to the bar to portray the beer-quaffing everyman Norm Peterson for all 11 seasons of the fabled NBC sitcom Cheers, has died. He was 76.

Wendt died peacefully in his sleep at home, his family confirmed early Tuesday morning. 

“George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,” a rep for Wendt said in a statement. “He will be missed forever. The family has requested privacy during this time.”

Of course it’s hard to not think about Bill Swerski’s Super Fans on SNL…”Da Bears!”

For today’s Wondering…what was and/or is your favorite watering hole, and why? Did every body know your name, or did you prefer a quiet stool by a neon moon?

28 thoughts on “Wednesday Wondering: Where Everybody Knows Your Name”

  1. Two of my all time favorite lines:

    Woody: how’s it going Mr. Peterson?
    Norm: Poor.
    Woody: I’m sorry to hear that Mr.
    Peterson.
    Norm: No, Woody (points at bar), *pour*.

    Woody: How’s it going Mr. Peterson?
    Norm: It’s a dog-eat-dog world and I’m wearing Milk Bone underwear.

  2. When I was in school The Uptown Lounge was my favorite. I doubt anyone knew my name even though I really tried to get to know a couple of the smokeshow bar tenders.

  3. I spent more time at The Brick in Milledgeville than I care the recall. You don’t spend 9 years in college without some work! After my favorite bartender left for Buffington’s I moved 50 feet down the sidewalk.

    My favorite spot in Atlanta once I moved was Ray’s on the River if I was near home. The Righteous Room if I was just leaving work.

    In Charleston it was The Griffon. Now I’m closer to Athens and getting older and prefer to drink at home.

  4. The turnover in Athens due to being THE MERICAN College Town makes it tough to groove long term relationships at bars. Before the lockdowns (no commentary, just a time reference) I had Creature Comforts pretty wired (never had to wait in line, just walked to the bar and would get asked what I wanted by the staff) but when they re-opened there was a lot of turnover and I’ve had to (slowly) try to reestablish that level of help. They don’t know my name but the dudes at Normaltown Brewing remember me for buying a crowler every Thursday during the lockdowns and always give great service. Finally, the dude that looks like John John Frusciante at Blue Sky provides OUTSTANDING service and has a great head for remembering “regulars” like me even though I’m terrible with names (unless I’m calling Irvin Myers or Pat Reed names). I credit the kids in Athens’ service industry, it’s very rare I’m let down service-wise.

      • Thanks! Now it’s in my mind to call him Alex the next visit. Thankfully, his comfort level in correcting me will get it sorted out , lol

  5. Swino’s/5th Quarter was probably my most consistent spot. Sky would always act glad to see you and like he remembered you wherever you saw him. Great guy, and like Norm, gone too soon.

  8. Late 80’s in Athens, my got to spots were Allen’s, The Foundry, and a dump at 5 points I think was called Hogs Breath Saloon.

    • Yeah, I spent almost every summer night in 1989 and 1990 at one or all of those establishments with regular visits to The Globe.

  9. Greg at Gus Garcia’s served me what seemed like a million beers/drinks.

  10. My favorite of all the lines: Whatcha up to, Norm? “My ideal weight if I was 11 feet tall.” I don’t know, maybe I relate *shrugs shoulders*

    As far as favorite bars back in the day??? geez what a blur that is.

  11. “The Dog House” on Broad St. right down the street from “Bubber’s Bait Shop”

    • Coldest beer ever! Mugs had ice in em.
      Stevarinos and Olionis too.

  12. My favorite watering hole of all time was Hearn’s on River Street in Savannah. Why? My family owned it. In Athens my favorite watering hole was T.K.’s. Why? I worked there. Friday’s at the Prado, vintage 1981, holds a special place in my heart as well. Why? I met my wife there.

    • The original Pinkie’s in Savannah, while Pinkie was still alive, was my favorite watering hole my family didn’t own.

  13. Southeast Georgia here. I moved to St Simons Island in 1994 and found my hole in the wall at Murphy’s Tavern. I walked in and when I got to my spot at the end of the bar, my beer was waiting on me. It was mostly locals back then with the bartender choosing the tunes. Three pool tables, two dart boards, and 80s rock. Now the kiddos have taken over and they have loud ass bands and the old locals found somewhere else to go. Damn shame.

    • I do like the Village Inn & Pub. Also, the pool bar at the Jekyll Island Club. The Holiday Inn Express on Jekyll has an outdoor bar that is both poolside and beachfront. That became my favorite.

      • I was at the state recreation conference on Jerkyll in 84 and and even though I managed season tickets (Butler’s 60 yarder was my first Dawg game. Anyway there was an oyster roast at the. Holiday Inn and the crowd sang “Georgia” and I believe that was when I truly became a Dawg!

  14. Whichever one is closest.
    Now that we’re empty nesters my wife and I hit one of the local spots a couple of times a week for drinks and food I don’t have to cook. We always sit at the bar. Here in and around Gainesville GA we have a few worth mentioning:
    Kelley’s
    Cotto
    Recess
    Peyton’s Pie and the beer joint attached to it
    Antebellum. They have an older gentleman named Tom that plays jazz guitar a couple of nights a week. We’ve gotten to know each other and Tom knows I have a thing for guitars. A few weeks ago he finished a set and says “Why don’t you sit in for a while?” so I got to play a few songs on a 1948 Gibson (ES 300 I think) which is one of the highlights of my existence. It is the first and only time I’ve ever played in public. I even got a smattering of applause.
    Bare Bones Steakhouse
    Consuelo’s for killer Margaritas
    El Sombrero for killer skinny Margaritas. Tell Hector I said “Hey”.

    I do love a good bar…

  15. Blue Sky, Moultrie GA circa 2002. Everybody knew your name and they honored a Steverino’s mug.

  16. Man that’s sad. What a great show and Norm was quite possibly the best character on the show.

    Favorite bars? I’ve spent more than my share of time in them even though I’m more of a beer next to a fire guy.

    Dingus McGee’s in Americus. After it closed several other people tried to open a bar in that same spot and it just wasn’t the same.

    In Athens, always partial to Cutters personally. I liked JR’s Bait Shack back when it was open. Even though it’s not my style in a lot of ways Flicker has always been good. Got one hell of an assortment of beers and whoever that guy was that was a bartender there forever made you feel like y’all had known each other forever. He sent a free beer my buddy’s way one night for shutting up a particular annoying patron. And you never know who you might see in there. Plenty of great musicians go in there to drink and Tyler Childers played in the room on the other side of curtain one night just before he blew up. Just him on his acoustic guitar. What a weird and cool little place.

  17. Nowhere Bar of course. I haven’t been in there in ten years but they used to have the best selection of music on the juke box of any bar I have ever been to.

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