Egans E1752859583122 — Egan’s was a staple on The Strip for over four decades. (The Bama Buzz)

Memories and tributes poured in across social media three years ago when the owners of Egan’s Bar in Tuscaloosa announced it would be closing the bar.

It took just one weekend for the historic spot to become a new bar called Unique in 2021. But nearly four years later, Unique has permanently closed, opening the door for a new ownership group to fill the space.

According to a recent report from the Tuscaloosa Thread, Egan’s is returning to its historic location, at least in spirit. While it will be under different ownership, the space is expected to renew the Egan’s name.

Keep reading to learn more about how the space will honor the classic bar.

Egan’s Bar

According to the Tuscaloosa Thread, new owner Nick Chichester said he has the blessing from Bob Weatherly, the former Egan’s owner, to reuse the name and pay homage to the place’s legacy.

“We’re talking about, I think, the second oldest bar in Tuscaloosa. There is a rich history of people and musicians who have come through here, and when you’re standing in that space, unless you’re going just to tear it all down and start over, it doesn’t feel right to take the name off the building.”
Nick Chichester via Tuscaloosa Thread

Egan’s was established in 1979, running for 42 years before closing in 2021. But even though the space changed, the memories for multiple generations of students are still talked about.

Sometimes it was just a space to stop in for a quick drink but it could also transform into the hottest venue on The Strip. The bar had live music without a true stage for years, hosting several big names including:

Alabama Shakes
Lee Bains + The Glory Fires
The Revivalists
Diarrhea Planet

And there was always a strong sense of Irish pride inside the bar as well, something that won’t change too much going forward.

“We’re doing a pretty extensive draft selection with Guinness on tap, and we’re going to do lots of live music. That’s one of the areas where I think we can lean into the Egan’s spirit and book and tons of live music. I’d like it to be a place where every weekend you can come down, catch somebody playing something, stay here for a few hours, and have a few drinks.”
Nick Chichester via Tuscaloosa Thread

The new space will be branded as Egan’s Irish Pub. It’s not yet clear when the bar will re-open but it’s expected to happen quickly. The Tuscaloosa Thread reports it could be as soon as the end of July.

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