photo by Brie Cohen

Dave Reisewitz, owner of Legends Bar, fills a mug with beer Thursday evening while Michael Severson, right, and Tom Sheveland hang out at the bar. Reisewitz changed the name of the establishment from The Cubby Hole to Legends after he got his liquor license.

Cubby Hole changes name, style

Legends Bar gets license for strong beer

Published Monday, November 24, 2008

A longtime Albert Lea bar is in the process of changing its name.

When all the paperwork is approved at the state level, what has been known for many years as The Cubby Hole will officially become Legends Bar.

Bar owner Dave Reisewitz put up a new sign at the building, 721 Marshall St., a few weeks ago to let people know the change is coming.

The owner said he tossed some different names around, and Legends Bar is the one that stuck.

“It struck a good tone, that’s it,” said Reisewitz, of why he decided to change the name. Plus, people associated The Cubby Hole with the old owner and low-alcohol beer — 3.2 percent alcohol — that was served. Now Reisewitz has gotten a liquor license and brought in several other changes.

According to the owner, the bar began under different ownership in 1948 under the name of Pete’s Place. From 1953 through 1957, it was known as Pete’s Bar, and then from 1950 through 1970 it was known as Pete’s Tap Tavern.

From 1971 through 1975, the bar was called the Duck’s Tap Tavern, and then in 1976 it became Cubby Hole.

Photo by Brie Cohen

Legends Bar’s address is 721 Marshall St.

Reisewitz and his wife purchased and took over the bar in 2005, and it became The Cubby Hole.

Now, as part of the transition over to the new name of Legends Bar, he said, he has put up some album covers on the walls and wants to get some other legendary items and photos to hang as well. He wants the bar to have a country-rock sort of feel.

He got his liquor license in October and starting serving liquor about three weeks later.

He’s started offering karaoke most Saturdays and has also started lining up some other entertainment.

He hopes to have an entertainer in at least once a month. Arlen Nesset will be coming this Saturday from 8:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. Sunday.

At the start of the new year, karaoke will be every Wednesday and Saturday. And if people would like to request karaoke any other night, that can be worked out as well, he said.

“I have noticed a few more people coming in who weren’t here before,” Reisewitz said. “It’s picked up some.”

Starting this Tuesday, he is starting a hot dog and beer night, which he plans to have every Tuesday and Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. It’d be similar to a happy hour idea, he said.

Photo by Brie Cohen

Dave Reisewitz mixes a drink behind the bar as Tom Sheveland, right, Michael Severson, center, and Al Curry talk at the bar Thursday evening at Legends.

Reisewitz is at the bar everyday but Sunday starting at 4 p.m.

In the spring he will have an official grand opening under the new Legends Bar name, and the old The Cubby Hole sign will be taken down and painted over.

Though it’s kind of a work in progress, after just a few months of work all the changes will be final.