The Dive on Patton, downtown Springfield’s newest dive bar, restaurant and music venue, is opening its doors to the public March 4 for their first show, although it will likely be a couple more weeks before they are fully up and running.
Owner John Chace is bringing his latest concept to the space that once housed Patton Alley Pub, which closed its doors in 2021 after over 17 years in business due to pandemic-induced financial struggles.
The Dive on Patton will bring something new and unique to Patton Alley, while honoring the history of the building’s former tenant.
With a long history in hospitality, Chace never gets tired of seeing customers enjoy ‘what we’re doing‘
Chace has worked in bars and restaurants for years and has opened several of his own businesses. After a job at a dance club brought him to Tulsa in 1995, he returned to Springfield to take care of his mom after his dad died.
For a while, he juggled multiple jobs at a bowling alley and bars before opening his first venture, JC O’Malley’s Irish Pub. Located where the current Dugout Bar and Grill is, Chace’s first business was a victim of the 2008 financial crisis.
But Chace didn’t give up there, and prior to the onset of COVID-19, he debuted Frank ‘n’ Steins, a concept that brought hot dogs, brats and craft beer to Springfield. They eventually moved to Nixa, and, like many during the fallout of the pandemic, closed its doors.
Through the years in the industry and the painful closure of his businesses, Chace never got tired of seeing customers enjoy what he and his team made.
“To be able to peek out that window and see them take that first bite and see their facial expression never got old,” Chace said.
It wasn’t long after when Chace started brainstorming his next business venture. After perusing different properties, he found the building that housed Patton Alley Pub to be the perfect fit, in terms of both location and because of the similar name people already associated with it.
While The Dive on Patton utilizes the name of its alley like its predecessor and the space will be enjoyed by patrons for similar reasons as before, Chace is implementing a number of changes to make The Dive on Patton unique and versatile in a changing industry.
With a walk-up window for food, The Dive on Patton is more than a dive bar
Chace knows that in a post-COVID world, he would need to be innovative and versatile to find ways to maximize revenue to take care of his employees.
The Dive on Patton is going to host a lot of live music, from rock bands to solo acoustic acts. But Chace is open to all sorts of other events, from weddings to slap boxing to games and activities.
And with 30 beers on tap, some domestic and others from local breweries, there will be plenty of beverages to choose from.
But Chace is getting the most creative when it comes to food. While the bar will primarily only be open from the early evening until bar close, the kitchen will begin cooking during the day, selling lunch as soon as 11 a.m. and throughout the afternoon and evening, with a late-night menu on certain days of the week.
Another benefit of the location is the downtown foot traffic. In order to maximize that, Chace installed a walk-up window to his kitchen, so people can quickly grab lunch or grab something to snack on while downtown.
Because the kitchen staff will be fulfilling and handling all of the orders out of the walk-up window, they will be eligible to be tipped, according to Chace.
Food menus will feature everything from sliders to biscuits and gravy to “waffle dippers” and maybe even the occasional hot dog special, drawing some menu inspiration from Frank ‘N’ Steins.
As of now, Chace is planning on the bar being open from 4:30 p.m. until 1:30 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday, the kitchen being open with the regular menu from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, but remaining open, with a limited, late-night menu from 11:00 p.m. to bar close on Thursday through Saturday. At first, lunch will only be available through the walk-up window from 11:00 a.m. until when the bar opens at 4:30, when guests will then be able to dine in or order to go.
Chace exploring options to recreate Patton Alley’s Pub’s beloved patio
Upon announcing his plans to open The Dive on Patton, Chace said he has heard a number of people ask him if he plans to have the sidewalk patio that was a popular feature of Patton Alley Pub. Stretched along the front of the building on the sidewalk, wooden picnic tables were roped off for bar patrons.
While he understands the need to have a patio, Chace isn’t a fan of the potential disturbance to pedestrians by having it on the sidewalk. Chace said that he is exploring putting one in an enclosed space with a grassy area behind the building, and decking it out with televisions and speakers.
“It’s not that big but it wouldn't be on the asphalt if we put the patio back there,” he said.
Chace said he may end up setting up a patio on the sidewalk, at least temporarily, until he is able to figure out a permanent solution and that regardless of what he decides, he has to have an encroachment agreement with the City anyways due to the walk-up window.
Chace hopes hard work, luck culminates for The Dive on Patton
Chace understands that hard work and a good business plan are vital to the success of The Dive on Patton, but he hopes, this time around, he runs into some “sheer dumb luck.”
“That’s a key component that people don’t look at,” he said.
Chace said that people see the vision he has for The Dive on Patton, but he plans to listen to what his customers want and continuously adapt to provide it for them.
“I get excited when I see people come in and they enjoy what we've put so much work into,” he said. “…And to see people out here thoroughly away from their job enjoying themselves because they chose to come here to spend the money that they've made, and they enjoy what we're doing here.”
With his experience in the industry and lessons learned as a business owner through financial hardships (and a pandemic), Chace is confident in the newest concept he’s bringing to Patton Alley.
Though not fully opening until mid-March, The Dive on Patton is hosting its first show on Saturday, March 4 at 7 p.m. TROY (The Reality of Yourself) and Etched in Embers will be performing. The performance is available for patrons 18 and up for $15 in advance, or $20 at the door.
Chace doesn’t anticipate that they will be able to serve food by the time of the first show.
While they have events lined up for March 10 and 11, Chace said it likely won’t be until St. Patrick’s Day weekend that they begin implementing regular hours and are fully operational. Updates will be made on their Facebook page.
