Tribute Video Brings Back Memories of Lake Charles Bar John’s Barn
Lake Charles, La [KNGT-FM] - If you're from Lake Charles or anywhere in Southwest Louisiana, chances are you’ve heard of John's Barn. Known simply as “John’s” to its old regulars, this local favorite was tucked away on 18th Street, just off Ryan Street in Lake Charles.
The iconic drinking establishment was opened back on October 3, 1947, and was open for decades in Lake Charles before its closing. John's Barn was an old wooden building that resembled a big old barn and even had the red paint on the wood on the outside to reflect its name.
If you were ever fortunate enough to go to John's, then you know it was just that one-of-a-kind type of place that, as soon as you walked in, you immediately felt comfortable there. Now, don’t get us wrong, the building was old, and the decades of wear and tear showed. But that’s exactly what gave it its charm and character.
No one who went there regularly cared that the floor was uneven and had a couple of holes in it. No one cared that when you played pool, the pool balls would regularly roll to one side of the table. All we cared about was that it was our place to hang out, the company was great, the beer was cold, and you knew everyone in there.
Plus, John's had one hell of a jukebox full of terrific music, with, of course, the iconic Johnny Paycheck song, Old Violin being the most popular one played. You could probably say it was John's Barn's theme song.
What really made John's Barn successful was the hospitality. The owners and bartenders always treated each person the same way, no matter who you were. John's was led by the legendary Mr. Glenn. Mr. Glenn would always greet you with a smile, and once he found out your name, he never forgot it. Everyone loved Mr. Glenn.
He was known for his laugh, his smile, his jokes he would write on a napkin for you, and his legendary snack, cooked sausage with mustard and crackers. My friend, classmate, and Mr. Glenn's daughter, Nickie, posted a video the other day, which was a tribute to John's Barn, and I wanted to share it with all of you.
Talk about bringing back some memories. You more than likely saw someone you know in the video.
Lake Charles Today