BY JACKIE FENDER WEEKLY VOLCANO 1/16/26 |
There’s something deeply comforting about a neighborhood bar that knows exactly what it is. A place where connection happens easily, where conversation spills as freely as the drinks, and where you can settle in without pretense. After more than a year behind closed doors, one such space in North Tacoma, Terry’s Bar and Grill, has returned, and it’s already humming with life.
Closed since September 2023, the beloved neighborhood bar quietly underwent a complete transformation before reemerging, appropriately, on New Year’s Eve of all days. The reopening felt symbolic: a fresh start, a collective exhale, and a reminder that community spaces still matter. Especially now.
Owned by Jeff and Helen Fraychineaud, whose Tacoma hospitality roots run deep through Hank’s Pizza and Beer, Parkway Tavern, West End Pub, and Cole’s Bar and Grill, the newly reopened space is both familiar and refreshed. Under the guidance of General Manager Alana Tamminga, it strikes that rare balance: welcoming, and thoughtfully updated while still maintaining soul.
The renovation reveals warm wood throughout, paired with clean, modern touches that feel intentional rather than flashy. It’s the kind of room that invites you to stay awhile, whether you’re perched at the rail, tucked into a booth, or sitting at a high top shoulder to shoulder with neighbors you haven’t yet met.
What stands out immediately is how naturally the room seems to function. Nothing feels forced or overly designed, and there is an ease to the layout that encourages conversation. Whether stopping in for a quick bite or lingering through an afternoon, the space adapts to the pace of its guests rather than pushing them along.
On a recent visit, I took a seat at the bar and quickly found myself trading friendly banter with the gentleman beside me. We compared orders, laughed about our mutual need for to-go boxes, and commiserated over the inevitability of post-lunch naps. No introductions required. This is the magic of a true third space: connection without obligation, community without effort.
Even on a Monday afternoon, the bar was bustling with conversation and movement. Glasses clinked, laughter floated through the room, and the energy made it clear this reopening had been eagerly anticipated.
The menu reflects that same philosophy of elevated comfort without intimidation. Familiar bar favorites like wings, deviled eggs, soups, and salads anchor the offerings, while playful, crave-worthy additions keep things interesting. Jo’s A Mess boasts their “famous” jojos loaded with cheese curds and smothered in rich, savory gravy.
Sandwich lovers will find plenty to celebrate. Let’s cast some vision on just a couple like The Meaty Mama Melt starring a housemade meatloaf with co-stars like caramelized onions and Swiss on marbled rye, or The Lunchbox delivering grilled thick-cut fancy bologna, melted Swiss, and a Dijon bacon onion jam on toasted brioche.
For those craving something heartier, comfort takes center stage. The Back Booth Pie, a housemade chicken pot pie, arrives warm and reassuring, or The Country Plate features hand-breaded chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes swimming in country gravy, food that doesn’t whisper, it hugs.
The bar program follows suit: approachable, thoughtful, and just adventurous enough. Cocktail aficionados will appreciate offerings like the Smoke & Mirror, Terry’s take on an Old Fashioned made with rye and Turkish Tobacco Bitters, or the cheeky There’s Always Money in the Banana Stand, blending reposado tequila, banana liqueur, and cocoa bitters. Prefer to keep it simple? A shot and a beer are always at the ready, no judgment attached.
What makes this reopening special is the return of a place built for connection and community. In a digital era places like this remind us how vital it is to have spaces designed for lingering, for talking, for human connection.
North Tacoma has its bar back. The door is open, the lights are warm, and the room is ready. Pull up a chair, order something comforting, and stay long enough to make a friend.
