Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — A historic Boston University dive bar has closed its doors after selling its liquor license.
Dugout Café on Commonwealth Ave. opened in 1934. The original owner, Jimmy O’Keefe, was one of the first to acquire a liquor license in Boston post-Prohibition. Boston University legend even says that it was once a speakeasy during the alcohol ban.
Now, 92 years later, the bar was given permission from the licensing board to transfer their liquor license to another restaurant.
Boston resident Sean Desilets was a frequent patron of the bar and was sad to hear that they were shutting down.
“Spent a lot of time at that bar, and I really enjoy it,” he said.
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Desilets said the bar was always filled with a unique mix of people.
“Very interesting group of people who you can find any given evening, including guys just off work in construction, professors and students, very amusingly,” he said. “It’s a really fun place to be.”
Dorchester resident Dwayne Reid has never been inside the Dugout Café, but he always wanted to.
“It’s been here forever, it’s a landmark,” Reid said. “A lot of the local students come here a lot, definitely one of those secrets amongst the college students.”
Earl’s Kitchen and Bar in the Seaport will be receiving The Dugout’s liquor license.
WBZ NewsRadio’s James Rojas (@JamesRojas.bsky.social) reports.