Over the past few years, a lot of craft beer bars have opened in New Jersey.
According to newjerseycraftbeer.com, there are 68 production breweries, 13 brewpubs and 21 "soon to open startups" in the state. And, of course there is a plethora of sports-themed bars doing business in the Garden State. So, it appears evident that plenty of folks are looking to "belly up" in just such places.
But there are some people, like me, who prefer the "old man bars" and mourn the loss of those that have closed.
Esquire Magazine featured an article in 2015 titled "The Subtle Differences Between an Old Man Bar and a Dive." Some of us, though, have known for decades what separates one from the other.
As I see it, the "old man bar" is quiet; rarely is there loud music playing. Usually, the only sound other than the voices of the patrons is a sporting event or news on a television set (typically, no flat screen TVs here).
These establishments aren't fancy; the bar, the barstools and the tables and chairs have been there a long time. The bartender, very often the owner as well, also sometimes serves as the cook and arbiter of arguments.
And, it's not a good idea to request trendy new beer or mixed drink in these watering holes.
MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey
My wife and I had a favorite spot in Highland Park, the Homestead Tap on Raritan Avenue. There was nothing fancy about the Homestead, it just a nice place to sit and chat over a beer. One of our best memories is a rather lively debate about the merits of American-made cars versus imported vehicles; we were asked our opinions on the matter even though we knew not a soul in the room; we were welcomed into the discussions like we were regulars.
There's one more thing -- no matter how heated the conversation becomes in an "old man bar," everyone remains friends at last call. 'Last call' for the Homestead Tap was in 1993 when it changed hands and became a fancy restaurant; my wife and I raised a cold one in memory.
Here's a gallery of vintage photos of taverns and bars around New Jersey. Be sure to have captions enabled for information about each ... and If you didn't see your favorite watering hole in this gallery, there's a good chance it appeared in one from previous years. Click here and here to view them.
Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find Greg Hatala on Facebook.