Lind tavern one of the oldest in the state

LIND – Slim’s Tavern may be one of the 10 oldest bars in the state, operating under one name in one building.

According to research by Peter Andrijeski of Seattle, original owner Slim Nichols opened the establishment at 101 N. I St. in 1912.

The bar was purchased by the only other owner, Floyd “Skip” Thompson, from the Nichols family in 1975.

Perhaps the most famous of the 10 oldest is The Brick, opened in 1898 in the town of Roslyn.

The Brick served as a backdrop for many scenes in the TV series “Northern Exposure,” which aired on CBS from 1990-95.

But Slim’s had its own brush with Hollywood fame, even before The Brick.

Bar and restaurant scenes from the 1989 Steven Spielberg film “Always” — starring Richard Dreyfuss, Holly Hunter and John Goodman — were filmed inside Slim’s.

Decor at Slim’s is an eclectic, somewhat cluttered, collection of photographs, bar signs, (beer) tap handles, antique fire arms, hunting trophies, tools and even a life size cardboard cutout of Oscar-winning western actor John Wayne.

When asked about the cardboard cutout, Thompson said, “I just liked it.”

Sitting at a table in his establishment, wearing an eye patch, having lost an eye in a battle with cancer, the 86-year-old Thompson looks a little like the ageing U.S. marshal, “Rooster Cogburn,” Wayne’s character from the 1969 film “True Grit.”

Thompson got his nickname, “Skip,” as a child in Port Orchard.

His father ran a foot ferry and the young boy was ever-present on the deck.

Passengers started calling him “Skipper” or “Skip” and the name stuck, he said.

Thompson said he never really went to school, “not past eight-grade anyway.”

He ultimately joined the Marine Corps.

Thompson was disillusioned with his duty assignment in military police.

“I wanted to be a real Marine, not a damn cop,” he said.

After the service, he moved to Ritzville and had all sorts of jobs from working in restaurants to driving tractors and road graders.

In 1975, he bought Slim’s.

Slim’s was home to many pool leagues and tournaments over the years, and Thompson won his share, he said. Dozens of trophies are displayed around the bar.

The bar actually occupies two buildings on a downtown corner.

In earlier years, Slim’s had its own history.

A bowling alley was part of the establishment. It was also a place where travelers could get a shower, and a haircut.

It even had a beauty salon for the ladies to get their hair done as recently as the 1950s.

Slim’s is also home to Magnolia Minerva, the city’s first and last madam, who had a thriving business until 1914.

Her story and photograph are on the wall, and Magnolia can be seen looking out of a second story window above the bar.

Business at Slim’s has been down in recent years.

Like a lot of small rural towns, the town struggles economically.

Asked about the best years for business, Thompson said, “We did real well when they were building 395,” referring to a highway project that widened U.S. Highway 395 more than 20 years ago.

The four-lane highway was completed in 1995.

After 46 years you might wonder if Thompson has any plan to sell the tavern and move on?

“No, I want to own the place for 50 years, then maybe pass it on to my daughter,” he said.