The epilogue of the Bar of the John

Although closed for some time now, the building that housed the legendary Joe's Bar, is coming to an end. Traditional bastion of bohemia in Porto Alegre, on the site will be built a modern shopping mall - with sixteen floors - which will occupy the entire length of the no less legendary Cine Baltimore. Both the film and represented the bar for a long time, not only the cultural scene of the Good End, but a good part of Porto Alegre.

The founder of the Bar of John, John Brum, said in an interview with Good End Already, in July 2005, who spent the greatest moments of his life. Also, on occasion, revealed other curiosities.

John ran his bar for over forty years. But it all started in the oldest and traditional Bar Seraphim, known as Bar Fedor (which never closed), and is worthy of another story. There John began as a waiter in 1937 and soon became manager.

He remained in function for 11 years. After this period, set up his own business with a partner - the Imperial Bar - to the dismay of Seraphim. The Imperial lasted four years. After the company eventually set up his own business - the Blue Bar - on Aranha, 1008.

It was at that address, in a large house, who was born the famous John's Bar The merchant put a few pool tables in the back and moved upstairs. Lived there for 27 years. In an interview with Now, John tells us: "The lounge bar was very familiar with towel and flowers on the tables. The movement began at 5 o'clock in the morning: they were milkmen, butchers, fiscal health - people who worked early and he would have breakfast there. Followed open until midnight or until the last customer. Some days it was 24 hours without closing. "

The bar was frequented by all sorts - HPS staff, teachers, doctors, lawyers, journalists, students and also by a marginal customers, even for the homeless. All in one way, were integrated to the spirit that marked John's Bar, the cultural and social plurality universality of its patrons. "The parish was very good and pleasant environment," John summed up the newspaper in 2005. "The old Jews were hours there, playing stick. Also talked a lot about football. The Carangache, a Jew "gremista sick," was famous because he spoke too loudly. Most of the bar was gremista. I went to a partner. "

And at dusk, these people suffered a total transformation. And from day to night, with its pool tables, bohemians and attracts all sorts of rogues, which became known figures for the characterization of "Skinny Bomfa", created and performed by comedian Andrew Daniels Gaucho - now known by the imitation of the former President Lula in the overall program Zorra Total. It was the night that the bar often met a totally eclectic, they mingled, more to the 80s, young, marginal, political activists, among other groups. Came by and marked their presence, politicians of all hues, from left to right. Names like Isaac Ainhorn, who built his political history as the alderman of the Good End, as well as pictures of several mayors who led our city, as Raul Pont, José Fogaça and the current chief executive José Fortunati passed through the tables of John Bar

Also actors, musicians, alias John Bar was sung in verse and prose in various compositions, the most known of the brothers and Kleiton Kledir were often seen on the night of Good End, just at the Bar John From Joao Gilberto to Nei Lisboa, Bebeto's Alves to Fagundes, who did not have not passed the Bar John's eclectic environment

And so the night fell and the famous morning freshly ground coffee, which would smell up the sidewalk, attracts the old and retired Jewish merchants, who would go beyond traditional game of "stick" and their endless conversations. As some traders said, was the meeting room, where many businesses were closed.

John sold the bar in 1979 to Julio Leite, who was in the old house until 1992, when it was demolished to build a garage. That's when John's Bar goes to the property located a few meters from the old, in Aranha, 1026, their last stronghold and now gives his final breath.

In this address the fame followed and expanded the variety of cachaça that were in plain sight on the shelves behind the long desk, in large clear glass. It had everything, blends with herbs, teas, fruit of the most varied. In some glasses to play with customers, snakes, spiders and other poisonous insects - plastic of course - called attention to the amazement of the unsuspecting least.

Everything there, the willingness of customers, and always looks on the precursors of bohemia and retirees and dealers continued integration of cultures, from day to night, playing "stick", drinking coffee and watching the transformation of old into a new Good End.

Ali also worked some figures that were known to everyone in the neighborhood, as Ilson, the Banana, the Indian, and finally Philip, who was present at the time of closing of the All Bar as well as John and Julius left their brand. If good or bad, not for me to evaluate. Only part of this story unequivocally.

Clients such as have died, which is now faithful attender of the snack bar of the park, Paulinho Debatin, Danilo and all the staff Bariri Football Club on Saturday to play football in the court of grit in the Redemption, all add up to this story. Game card games, rock concerts - the era in which even the bar was a stage - and that revealed many bands and musicians, whose barbecue smells and fumes mingled in an open area located on the back of the building ... everything, in short is part of this rich history.

In 2010, during the election period, to the surprise of many, the building of the old John was temporarily reopened. During the reform that he might become a political committee, many looked puzzled, some asked to enter, and tours were asked whether the bar would reopen. It was a flash, a dream, but that does not take place. Sold to a developer's construction, its end was announced long ago.

Now, finally, came the epilogue of an era, part of the history of at least two generations who lived intensely Bar John and his idiosyncrasies. He now definitely leaves the material plane to perpetuate itself in the imagination and records like this, so that new generations can learn a little about an epic universality. And would the song ... I miss John's Bar ...

Paul Pruss Access Blog: portoalegre-rs.blogspot.com