Thinking & Drinking Local
- Katlyn Gerken
- Mar 28, 2021
- 2 min read
Updated: Dec 3, 2021
You're really like a member of the family. Birthdays, Blackhawks games, celebrations, first (and second and third) dates, goodbyes – including one of the most epic parties for my parents just before they moved to Arizona – an alumni event to celebrate the best in the world, a shoulder (or chair) to cry on after a breakup or bad day, and now the start of something new – a wedding shower for my fiancé and me: you’ve been there for it all. I realize this past year may have been even harder on you than it was on me, so I’m hoping this lifts your spirits.
Old Towne Pub in Geneva, Illinois, is a very special spot. It’s one of those places where I feel at home – a feeling that eluded me from late 2017 to early 2020.
It has all the good vibes of a small-town bar without any of the unpleasant things. Maybe this new chapter I’m about to embark on has me feeling all nostalgic, but there’s something special about this place that is hard to put into words. Like a best friend whose presence and support remain judgement-free throughout life’s highs and lows, you can feel the warmth of this place as soon as you open the door. Sure, maybe the dark, wood interior lends itself to a warm vibe, but it’s the memories made inside these walls that are more powerful and meaningful than any flooring or paint color.
As I visit for the first time in more than a year, I am going to savor that first step inside and take it a little slower (not just because I’ll be wearing new heels!). I’ll look around, smile, and soak it all in. Metaphorically, maybe I view this step into Old Towne as the first step into the next chapter of my life (it’s almost in line with walking down the aisle, right?). Physically ordering a drink at the bar will be a great adventure, too, but I’ll take one thing at a time.
I’m a little – no, a lot – nervous walking in. Or is it excitement? Anticipation? Oh, no; that’s the feeling you get just before embracing an old friend you haven’t seen in years.
Sarah, Dad, Mom and I at the going away party in 2018.
My then-boyfriend (and now husband), Travis, and I headed to Old Towne Pub on our first date in Illinois. At the time, we lived in two different states!
Old Towne Pub all lit up on March 28, 2021.
