Skinny Slim's Public House is moving one block from its original location on Patton Alley in downtown Springfield.
The move to the new 2,300 square-foot storefront, located at 308 South Ave. between Nonna's Italian Cafe and Sweet Boy's Neighborhood Bar, will establish the pub in the epicenter of downtown and bring more foot traffic, owner Rob Hoerr said. After a 13-year run, the original bar, located at 323 S. Patton Ave., will stay open until renovations on the new building are completed and the bar is moved, he said.
“We just want to be in the hub of downtown, like right in the middle of where the entertainment district is over here,” Hoerr said.
“Just on that block [of South Ave.] alone you can get Italian food, buy records, get used books, watch the sunset from an igloo, watch live music, do karaoke and get quality cocktails.”
Hoerr said he aims to open the new Skinny Slim's as soon as possible, depending on how long repairs take. The building renovations will be mostly cosmetic, besides some plumbing and electrical work, Hoerr said.
Hoerr declined to disclose the total financial investment for the new location. The building previously housed the Skinny Improv before it dissolved nearly a decade ago.
Skinny Slim's to move original bar and decorations
When Patton Alley Pub closed in 2021 from COVID-19 pandemic-related financial stress after a 17-year run, the downtown alley lost some of its luster, Hoerr said. On certain nights of the week, Skinny Slim's was the only bar open on Patton Avenue.
“When Patton Alley Pub closed, it kind of made that street, for awhile, look like there wasn't really a lot going on,” Hoerr said. “The places around us have shifted to a clientele that's a lot different” than it was in the past.
Skinny Slim diehard fans don't need to worry: The original bar and the majority of the decorations will move with the business, Hoerr said. The new space will provide a couple-hundred extra square feet for service. The menu will stay mostly the same, with the possible addition of a few martinis and some infused vodkas, he said.
Ultimately, Hoerr wants Skinny Slim's to be a go-to downtown pub where people can expect a consistent cocktail and an expansive beer menu.
“We have the largest beer selection in Springfield in the smallest bar,” Hoerr said.
13 years in Patton Alley
The 3,731 square-foot building Skinny Slim's is moving to is owned by McDaniel Street, LLC, and had a total market value of $305,700, according to the Greene County Assessor's Office records. McDaniel Street, LLC, is registered to United States Corporation Agents, Inc., according to Missouri Secretary of State Office records.
Though the location in Patton Alley was the original Skinny Slim's, the company has expanded to Oklahoma City, Hoerr said. Skinny Slim's is opening its third store in the Oklahoma City-region within a couple months, he said.
Skinny Slim's will celebrate its 13th anniversary Jan. 20 at its original location. The party will be complete with champagne, cocktails and even confetti bombs, Hoerr said. This year will be extra special as it will be the last in its flagship Patton Alley spot.
“We make a mess of the place,” Hoerr said. “We treat it like another New Year's Eve.”
