Historic Detroit Bar Nancy Whiskey Bounces Back from 2009 Fire, Keeps 121-Year Legacy Going
Nancy Whiskey, Detroit’s oldest party spot since 1902, is a beloved venue, particularly for the Detroit St. Patrick’s Parade and St. Patrick’s Day festivities. The historic bar, which has a raucous atmosphere and deep local ties, was left with an uncertain future after an early Sunday morning electrical fire devastated the building just hours after a busy Saturday night.
The owner, Gerald Stevens, who inherited the bar from Nancy McNiven-Glenn in 2005, briefly contemplated filing an insurance claim and taking the payout instead of rebuilding. But his sense of responsibility to his staff, loyal customers, and a late father’s memory inspired a renovation of the landmark establishment.
The reconstruction successfully preserved many of Nancy Whiskey’s historic features, including its iconic tin ceiling and a restored phone booth that once belonged to Teamster leader Jimmy Hoffa, a frequent patron after becoming union leader in 1937.
Even with the rising costs of construction challenges, Stevens remains committed to the bar’s unique identity. Nancy Whiskey has never needed ads, relying on its conviviality and community to attract customers. Nancy Whiskey has been carrying the torch for this history, playing an irreplaceable role in Detroit’s nightlife and proving that no matter how glitzy and glamorous the trends might be, some places are too loved to ever go away. “It’s like a Cheers bar,” said Reyes, but what’s going on is “based on the night.”
