You’ve made it to Arnold’s Bar and Grill, the grand old storyteller of Cincinnati watering holes! Right here beside you stands not just a bar but a living, breathing chunk of American history, pouring drinks and spinning tales since 1838. That’s right, Arnold’s is the city’s oldest continuously operating bar - older than electric lights, older than telephones, and, you know, perfectly old enough to be your great-great-grand-bar.
Picture the scene in 1838: Cobblestone streets, horses and carriages passing by, and Susan Fawcett opening what was, rather cheekily, described as a “whorehouse.” Well, Cincinnati has always liked to do things with a bit of flair! By 1861, Simon Arnold had taken over, working as barkeep and living with his family right upstairs. Here’s a fun mental image: the boss is always watching - because he’s quite literally right above your head.
Around 1900, Hugo Arnold, Simon’s son, takes control. Hugo and his wife, plus their six children, all lived above the bar. That must’ve made for some loud family dinners. Hugo had the genius idea to expand next door - yes, more space for women to enter separately, a big deal back when bars were mostly a boys’ club. In the 1920s, Elmer Arnold inherited the family business, just in time for Prohibition. No more legal booze, but did that stop Elmer? Of course not! He switched to serving food, but between you and me, he was probably serving more than just dinner. Homemade gin in the bathtub upstairs - rumor has it, the tub came with a handy drain plug, ideal for “losing the evidence” if the law ever came knocking. Cincinnati: where even the bathtubs have secrets.
The Arnold family kept things rolling, through 98 years and three generations, until 1959. That’s when the baton - or should I say, the bar rag - was handed to a professional wrestler and mob collector named Jim Christakos, who moved in upstairs with his brother George Christos. Imagine finishing a shift and suplexing into bed.
By the 1970s, the place changed hands again, going to city council member Jim Tarbell. He not only lived upstairs, but expanded Arnold’s with the courtyard you can still see buzzing today. Fast-forward through time, and the Breeden family, former staff themselves, took over - living proof that here, the staff truly become family. Today, Chris and Bethany Breeden keep the tradition alive, continuing the blend of hearty food, drinks, and community spirit.
You think Arnold’s just serves food and drinks? It serves up stories, too. During Prohibition, the place doubled as a speakeasy. Staff and patrons whisper about ghosts - and in 2017, a team of paranormal investigators showed up to check things out. Results? Let’s just say some spirits here aren’t only behind the bar.
See the iconic bathtub cart out front? That’s a tribute to those “bathtub gin” days. It even has its own local label now: Hugo Arnold’s Bathtub Gin, made with local distillers - a perfect toast to the law-bending, gin-mixing Arnold ancestors.
Arnold’s is also a local celebrity. Esquire, Thrillist, The Daily Meal - everyone’s sung its praises. Its walls are covered in art from world-famous street artists like Shepard Fairey, JR, Hargo, Vhils, and L’Amour Supreme, their murals making Arnold’s as much an outdoor gallery as a bar.
TV crews love Arnold’s too - it’s appeared on Man v. Food, Hot Ones, and even became a detailed set on NBC’s Harry’s Law. As for Hollywood, scenes from the film “Carol” with Cate Blanchett took place right inside. Schwarzenegger, Willis, De Niro - the list of stars who’ve raised a glass is long. One could say, here, you’re just as likely to bump into a ghost as a celebrity!
So, while you gaze at this humble brick building buzzing with laughter and conversation, remember you’re not just outside a bar - you’re at Cincinnati’s living legend, a place where gin, gossip, and ghosts have clinked glasses for nearly 200 years. If you want to step inside for a quick peek, don’t blame me if you leave with a story or two yourself!
