Words can in no way express how delighted I am to be the first to alert you on the following piece of nightlife development in Tacoma.



Harry’s Place, located at 3529 McKinley Ave., has closed, and new ownership of the building and the business has taken over.



The new proprietor? It’s none other than someone most of you already know and love:



Jaime Kay Newton, the endearing bartender who has been lighting up our lives at Magoo’s for the last five and a half years.



After saving up those duckets, Jaime and her boyfriend, Jason J. Jones, went in on the deal together. This opportunity came along by way of referral from Magoo’s owner Carl Chalker who believed in Jaime and completely supported this move. Then, amidst the pressure of another potential buyer and with just a few hours to decide, Jaime and Jason went for it and closed last week.



Congratulations!



This news is of particular importance to me since I live just a few stumbling blocks away from their location. In addition, this bar has been a problem child for our neighborhood ever since I’ve lived there. My heart is at ease now that I’ll no longer have to yell at the shady people who formerly frequented this place and offered me nothing but rude remarks.



To make it all even better, Jaime and Jason have such great plans for the spot. They’ve secured both Harry’s and the adjoining business/building, formerly known as Big Nick’s Pizza. The pizza place will be transformed into a cozy little 10-seater deli (to go items for sure), with a cut through window that will service the bar. Smart!



They’re planning on offering good food like grilled Panini, salads, homemade pasta, fruit and brie plates, baguettes, and homemade soups. Yum!



The bar itself will be remodeled from top to bottom. And, yes, it’s getting a brand new name:



The Top of Tacoma Bar and Grill!



They’re planning on including a toy top motif to accompany the rehabbed building, and important details like hand-blown glass lighting fixtures (James is a glass blowing instructor at Jason Lee Middle School and Wilson High School).

The Top of Tacoma Bar and Grill (it feels so good to type that) will be home to six beers on tap, a wide array of bottled beers and wine (for now), two pinball machines (Jaime LOVES pinball), a foosball table, a pool table, a juke box, TVs for sporting events and occasional live bands.



In terms of those ruffians who used to hang at Harry’s, it won’t take long to shuffle them out, especially with Jaime and Jason at the helm. Plus, there are too many good people on the Eastside who have been waiting and praying for this business to change ownership, and we’ve been dying for a cool place.



Carl is understandably bummed to see one of his great bartenders go, but he knew that she was destined for bigger things. She’ll continue to bartend at Magoo’s until she opens her new enterprise in approximately October.



Without a doubt, I’ll most certainly be a devoted patron of this location and I’ll be sure to greet you there with an ear to ear grin saying:



Welcome to the Top of Tacoma!