SNOHOMISH – First Street in Snohomish is famous for its antiques, but there’s one that deserves special consideration.
| 913 First St., Snohomish; 360-568-3845
Specialty: steaks, burgers and Caesar salads, beer Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday Price range: inexpensive to moderate Liquor: full bar Smoking: allowed Reservations: available Disabled accessibility: no apparent barriers on main floor Credit cards: all major cards accepted |
It doesn’t need much dusting, but it won’t fit in the back of your truck.
The Oxford Saloon &Eatery has been around in some form since 1889 and has a history that’s about as storied as any bar you’ll find.
Tucked in a narrow space a few blocks in from Avenue D, the Oxford’s stained-glass windows and swinging doors are the first striking impressions you’ll get of the old-style saloon.
The next is the rustic wood feel of the interior, with wide planks of lumber on the floor, a classic bar and wood furniture to complete the look.
But this is no Disneyland attraction. This place has been around for a while, and there’s proof.
The moose head that watches over the bar from way up near the ceiling has been in that same spot ever since the bartenders wore those funny apron outfits for old pictures.
The proof is in one of those old pictures that hangs next to the moose head. Sure enough, the snapshot of the Oxford in a past life shows bartenders in funny apron outfits and the moose up in the same spot on the same wall.
Manager David Swanson, who helped his 22-year-old son, Craig, buy the Oxford in March, is looking to capitalize on all the unique aspects of the place and build on it, improving the menu and sprucing up the second bar downstairs that typically draws a younger crowd.
“The Oxford is a premium brand – probably the most premium brand in Snohomish County,” said Swanson, whose family has roots in Snohomish going back to the 1930s. “We’re going to try to take it to another level … to put it at the top of the mind of most Snohomish County people when it’s time to go out and get a good steak, listen to some good music and have a fine night out.”
The Oxford is the stuff of legend, complete with the brothel that once operated upstairs and the spirits that allegedly haunt the place, including a policeman who was killed while breaking up a knife fight.
Swanson has already beefed up the menu, so to speak, focusing on providing solid steaks at reasonable prices to go along with the half-dozen beers available on tap, including Mac &Jack’s, Moose Drool, Red Hook Blonde and a hefeweizen.
Many others are available in bottles, and there’s a full bar.
The main floor is home to live music five nights a week. Swanson is bringing in more classic rock bands for a more even balance between those old favorites and the blues that the Oxford has become known for.
Downstairs, in what was the secret watering hole during the Prohibition era, is another full bar. In the basement, there’s a jukebox (an upgraded, Internet-based one is on the way), as well as pool tables, dart boards and a foosball table.
Happy hour is from 5 to 7 p.m. weekdays and features half-price appetizers and drink specials.
And Monday nights are about to get sizzling with a Texas hold ‘em poker tournament every week, starting at 6:30 p.m.
But even when there isn’t something happening at the Oxford, it’s a great spot to grab a beer with some friends and try to make sense of the decor. You can hypothesize about the woman standing on the swing suspended above the main floor, or the knight in armor that hovers off the ceiling near the front door.
You can bet they’ve all got a story.
Reporter Victor Balta: 425-339-3455 or vbalta@heraldnet.com.
Jennifer Buchanan / The Herald
RIGHT: The Oxford Saloon &Eatery looks out on downtown Snohomish’s First Street.
BELOW: Bartender Rachel Allen mixes drinks for bar patrons.
A gigantic Harley-Davidson sits outside the Oxford in Snohomish last week.
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