219 Lounge honored as top chamber business
Claudia and Mel Dick stand outside the 219 Lounge. The business was named as the June Business of the Month by the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce.
Photo courtesy GREATER SANDPOINT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
SANDPOINT — The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce recognized the 219 Lounge as June's Business of the Month, honoring the business' long history and commitment to the local community.
The 219 Lounge has been a fixture in Sandpoint since 1934, when it opened as the Old Bohemia Club. It officially became the 219 Lounge in the 1950s when someone filling out the transfer of the Idaho liquor license mistakenly wrote the address on the "business name" section of the application.
The 219 was purchased by Mel and Claudia Dick in 2005 and they began extensive renovations in 2013. The most significant change was the decision to go smoke-free in December 2016. The extensive work to remove the smoke smell revealed a decades-old mural on one of the walls and created a more inviting atmosphere.
The bar features live entertainment at least three nights per week, including Wind Down Wednesdays with Truck Mills and half-off bottles of wine, and live music every Friday and Saturday night featuring local, regional and occasionally national touring bands. The venue also hosts comedy nights four times a year with nationally known comedians and karaoke every Tuesday night.
In 2018, the 219 Lounge was named "Idaho's Best Small Town Community Bar" and the top location in the country where you would least expect to find great karaoke.
The 219 Lounge has collaborated with more than 30 nonprofit organizations over the past two decades, providing financial support and donations such as private cocktail classes, mixology courses and whiskey tasting experiences.
The business has supported groups including Pine Street Woods, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Idaho Wildlife Foundation, Kinderhaven before its closure, CHAFE 150, various Rotary golf tournaments, NAMI Far North, 24 Hours for Hank and Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness. The 219 has been involved with PAFE (Panhandle Alliance for Education), the Sandpoint Chamber, the Tourism Council and Sandpoint Rotary.
The 219 Lounge is located at 219 N. First Ave., Sandpoint. The bar is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
The Chamber congratulated the 219 Lounge for its recognition as Business of the Month and thanked the business for its continued support of the greater Sandpoint community.