Posted: 4/7/2020
Trader Jon’s was a famous bar in Pensacola where military members, celebrities, and politicians came to have a good time. Although this was the name of the bar, this was also the nickname for an actual person! A native of Pensacola, his business was a staple and even attracted actors and actresses.
Martin Weismann was born in 1915 and opened up this famous bar with his wife in 1953. He was famous for his mismatched socks he wore to work and his “Tradernomics.” Weismann trained as a paratrooper in WWII, so he had that connection to the local military men when they were training at the local Navy base.
Even people who did not have enough money, Weismann would let you trade “memorabilia” such as pictures or posters in exchange for drinks. These exchanges are seen throughout the whole exhibit, from pictures to Navy relics. Weismann would end up with an approximate total of 10,000 collected items around the Bar by the time it closed.
Celebrities such as John Wayne and Elizabeth Taylor came to visit Trader Jon and left autographed photos that can be seen. Many presidents, as well, such as John Kennedy to George H.W. Bush, also came by. Even though this Bar has been closed officially since 1998, people who have lived in Pensacola still remember this iconic location. This place shut down shortly after the owner, Martin Weismann, had a stroke, and he passed away in 2000.
The actual building where this was located is still around and is used as a place to rent for local events. But if you want to see what was on the inside, I would recommend going to the second floor of the Wentworth Museum. If you grew up in the Pensacola area, have a military family, or want to see old Hollywood photos, you will want to come to this exhibit. It is my favorite exhibit, and when I get scheduled in this museum, that is the exhibit, people would ask me about the most! I hope you come by and check this popular exhibit once we can open again.
No comments:
Post a Comment