November 07, 2009
What's Inside:
First Ward House to reopen
New owner Chu will keep restaurant’s basic menu
New owner Chu will keep restaurant’s basic menu
First Ward House, a storied saloon/restaurant on St. Joseph Avenue that attracted increasingly younger crowds until it closed earlier this year, has been bought by a local ethnic restaurateur.
Ming Tang Chu plans to reopen First Ward in late July while keeping its signature laid-back atmosphere. He said he will tweak the menu to accentuate the most popular items, but overall keep the country steakhouse and barbecue cuisine.
“No broken, no change. That’s the American way,” said Mr. Chu, a 56-year-old immigrant from Taiwan who came to St. Joseph in 1983 and has owned six restaurants in Savannah, Kansas City and St. Joseph.
Mr. Chu said First Ward will also have happy hour specials as well as a nightly house special that may include Cajun dishes.
Mr. Chu has left management of Chu’s Garden at 3619 Beck Road, which serves American, Mexican and Chinese buffet items, to his employees.
First Ward is his last restaurant venture before retirement. He says he was attracted to its price, location and a following by younger crowds.
“I would drive by and I always see parking lot full,” Mr. Chu said. “I don’t know how they (previous management) not make it.”
First Ward House has closed and reopened under new owners several times. Inside, the tavern has exposed brick walls and hardwood floors. An addition and large deck were recently built onto the original structure, where local blues artists would entertain customers.
First Ward House claims to be the oldest saloon west of the Mississippi. It originally was built as a three-story hotel for railroad workers in 1878. The structure operated as a hotel until the late 1930s, and since then it has survived primarily as a bar.
“There is a lot of history here,” Karlon Abels, owner of DFG Fire and Safety, cleaning its hood ventilation system on Thursday. “If the walls could talk they would tell all about the gunbattles and brothels. A lot of history.”
Ahmad Safi can be reached at ahmadsafi@npgco.com.
This story has 17 comments. Click here to join in on the discussion.
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Will it still be a place to go see great bands and listen to the blues?
God Bless America, God Save The Republic.
if the blues is still there, they will survive. there have been a slew of good blues bands since i started going there. and if they want to succeed there they need to keep up the good work in signing them.
what happend to the last owners? there was never a table open, so it couldn't have been from lack of business?
With the last owners it was not a matter of lack of business, it was a matter of poor management. When you don't make your rent payments, the bank seems to frown on that and will shut you down. Chad Pinzino had a great thing going, but he really had to mess it up not to succeed. He had a good clientele, steady business, good bands and I was told good food too. I know Chad is a good guy, but he suffers too much from the "good 'ole boy" system and apparently blew the money he brought in instead of managing it wisely.
This comment was removed by the site staff.
RJW June 27, 2009 at 8:14 p.m.This comment was removed by the site staff.
gocubbies June 29, 2009 at 3:29 p.m.This comment was removed by the site staff.
gocubbies June 30, 2009 at 9:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)I see how it is. If you state facts in this newspaper you get it removed.
cubbie...what are some of the facts, why were last comments removed, I didn't see them.
Why not try Magoons Famous Deli....great sandwiches and GREAT BLUES!!!! All the same great blues bands that the 1st Ward had.......and much nicer people!!!!!!
It's easier to remove posts than to investigate...
Most of what I posted is public record and easily verifiable.
I guess most of the "reporters" are at the mall asking people what their favorite video game is...
Having eaten at Chu's Garden leaves me little hope for First Wards menu.
Pinzino's BBQ and other items will be avaialable at the Hi-Ho in the next few days on their menu.
This comment was removed by the site staff.
StJoeMoe June 30, 2009 at 5:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)So what happened?
I want the real story.
The place was always packed, I heard back taxes were due, never knew rent was not being paid....
I first thought someone had their finger in the till.
WHere can the real story be found?
Oh, GREAT JOB MR. CHU!!!!!!!
BEST OF LUCK TO YOU IN THIS AND YOUR UPCOMING RETIREMENT!!!!
Another good story for the NP would be the sudden demise of Sterling Auto Brokers. Not a Madoff type scam, but certainly interesting. The NP is still trying to sell newpapers, right?
If someone would only show some initiative.
If the NP is going to remove my comment based upon the criteria that it was a rumor, then I would appreciate if they printed the "factual" information as to why the original establishment was closed.
Furthermore, the NP seems to be VERY selective about their "rumor criteria". It seems to be there are a lot of "rumors" that fly around the post about Heartland, the mayor/city council, and the School District/Administration but yet this seemingly innocent post of mine was removed...not to mention I was only seeking additional information behind the original story that never made paper.
If the NP is interested in facts, then print the entire and accurate story!