Syracuse, N.Y. — It was a day for many of the old regulars to stop in to The Blue Tusk, the landmark Armory Square bar that closed for good Saturday night.
Amid the throng of old-timers, Dean Elton stood out. He drove in from his home in Madison County after reading about the closing of the 26-year-old bar that helped make Armory Square a drinking and dining destination for the past quarter of a century.
“This is my first time here,” Elton said as he ordered a Tusk Bomb, a beer made in tribute to The Blue Tusk by Poughkeepsie’s renowned Sloop Brewing Co. “It’s such a cool place. I can’t believe I waited until now to come here. It’s a real bummer.”
Elsewhere pockets of the regulars, called the Tuskafari by co-owner Mike Yorton, milled about talking about the old days. More than one conversation turned to memories of long ago beers and old friends.
Many wore the tie-dyed style Tusk t-shirts that included the bar’s motto on the back: “Reality is an hallucination caused by the lack of good beer and fine wine.”
The closing, which became public in July, is the result of a dispute over a new lease for the space in the Center Armory Building at 165 Walton St. The Tusk will be replaced in a few months by the Taphouse on Walton, which will offer its own take on the concept of good beer paired with sandwiches, cheese boards etc., plus a bake shop.
Long-time fans also took to social media Saturday to offer their tributes to the bar and to the father-son ownership team of Tim and Mike Yorton, who helped introduce craft beer to Syracuse and make Armory Square a place to be in town.
Many posts noted that The Blue Tusk was a gathering place for more than a generation.
“Dang , I’m really gonna miss The Blue Tusk. . .” wrote local musician Colin Aberdeen. “It’s been an anchor of connection and friendship for so many , for so long. It’s a huge loss to the community. ... Another business may occupy that space but it’ll never take it’s place.”
Regular Bill Bowen posted his tribute to the Tusk with a photo on the last day.
“This outstanding craft beer, fine wine, and high end deli emporium, established in 1995, had a spectacular 26-year run, and served as an anchor for the revitalized Armory Square district,” Bowen wrote. “... As today was the Tusk’s final day, I felt moved to go down there to say goodbye. It was like walking into a time capsule. So many of the usual suspects were still at their perches, and I got the opportunity to thank Mike and Tim (Yorton) for their many kindnesses to me. The farewell was more emotional than I expected. ... So long, Blue Tusk. To everything there is a season.”
Another tribute came from another of Amory Square’s signature bars, Kitty Hoynes Irish Pub & Restaurant, located just a few blocks away.
“They were pioneers in the craft beer era,” the Kitty Hoynes Facebook post said. “Their vibe was electric, their service to their community was top class, they were ingrained within the Syracuse community. The beer community respected and lauded The Tusk as a special place on earth to have a sip and a bite. They built a fabulous tradition. They created a whole tribe of Tuskafari that will live on and always hold the Tusk and Yorton family up!
“The Tusk was a huge reason we moved here and opened our pub in Armory Square. We can not thank you enough for the last 26+ years. You have put Syracuse on the map, not many beer joints can say that. We wish you the very best for the future wherever that may lead you! SLÁINTE!”
Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.
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