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New era dawns for landmark cocktail lounge

There’s a catch phrase in the American lexicon, “You can’t go home again,” but I beg to differ because my favorite watering hole, located at 126 E. Canon Perdido Street once home to the legendary Jimmy’s Oriental Gardens re-opened as the Pickle Room on October 5, 2013. Entering that night, was like walking back in time; proving I could go home again to the “Cheers” like bar where ‘everybody knew my name.’ Legions of fans agreed and they all showed up for the grand opening. Restored lovingly by the father and son team of Bob and Clay Lovejoy, the Pickle Room is welcoming new admirers as well as embracing the old regulars who, like me, found friendships and camaraderie inside its walls. The vibe is still alive.

The room is pitch perfect with the signature pagoda roof now matching the length of the restored red bar, the original oriental lanterns, vintage Asian pin-up girl posters, the “double happiness” symbols and a giant good luck red knot on the gold painted walls, make this a room an authentic throw back while honoring the people who worked and lived there for 66 years –the Chung family. The original outdoor sign now dominates the back wall of the bar. Tommy Chung, who took over the reins from his dad Jimmy in the 1970s, gave the Lovejoy’s his blessing to use the sign. one of the most important parts of the successful equation was to include Willy Gilbert, who dominated as bartender, dJ, conversationalist, and master joke-teller at Jimmy’s for more than 25 years. he came back to manage the bar and works three nights a week. Yes, Willy’s eclectic jazz soundtrack is back fueled by a great sound system from Sonos.

Willy and the Lovejoys’ have assembled rock star line up of well-known bartenders including: Chris Wright (who tended bar at Piatti’s for 15 years before it closed), “Jersey” dave (formerly at Piatti’s and Palmieri’s), PJ Sweet (from the Wine Cask) and “Boston” Jack (whose Bloody mary was named one of the ten best in the U.S.). These men all come with advanced degrees in mixology, warmth and knowledge