Bad news to wake up to on New Year's Eve. The Wild Duck was the go-to hangout spot after big meets in Eugene. You never knew who you would bump into there, but it was always a good time.
What was your favorite story from the Wild Duck? I'm sure LetsRun nation has some good ones...
They aren't the only ones who had to shut down in the area in recent months. 'Sizzle Pie', 'Café 440' and 'Busy Bee' in Springfield also called it quits earlier
Another casualty of economic policies that will bring on more suffering in the New Year. A recession, increased employment, and more high costs of everything. Hello, 2023!
I stopped by there in December of 2019 after attending the Oregon football game where they beat Utah. They had a cat named Herbert at QB and a dog by the name of Verdell ran for over 200 yards. The place was nice and I gave the waitress a more than adequately sized tip.
Another casualty of economic policies that will bring on more suffering in the New Year. A recession, increased employment, and more high costs of everything. Hello, 2023!
Most restaurants operate at less than 5-10% profit. It doesn't really take much for a place to go under. It's generally just a bad business plan.
Damn! You could always bump into an Olympian, a legend, an elite, and a power broker at Wild Duck before and after meets. If connected, it was the spot for private shoe company and media parties. I am sorry to see it closing.
The sport is dying. All the great haunts have closed. I guess the hobby jogging charity fund raising masses prefer celebrating at Applebee’s and the fans would rather argue and analyze on their iPhones instead of over beers? So glad that I visited all of these places before they became memories.
It’s a small sport. So small that the best athletes in the world can mingle with fans a few blocks away from Hayward Field. But also so small that this Hayward/Wild Duck magic only happens a few times a year. It’s a lot to ask for tiny Eugene Oregon to keep the sport alive year-after-year with only A few marquee meets that we speak about here. no one heads to Wild Duck after the Pepesi Team challenge or Oregon high school state meet.
It’s a small sport. So small that the best athletes in the world can mingle with fans a few blocks away from Hayward Field. But also so small that this Hayward/Wild Duck magic only happens a few times a year. It’s a lot to ask for tiny Eugene Oregon to keep the sport alive year-after-year with only A few marquee meets that we speak about here. no one heads to Wild Duck after the Pepesi Team challenge or Oregon high school state meet.
Track probably had about zero effect on their bottom line compared to college drinking...
Another casualty of economic policies that will bring on more suffering in the New Year. A recession, increased employment, and more high costs of everything. Hello, 2023!
Most restaurants operate at less than 5-10% profit. It doesn't really take much for a place to go under. It's generally just a bad business plan.
Wow that's long time for a restaurant. Most that survive the first year fail within 3 to 5 years.
Actually the WD have opened late 80s early 90s. The Original WD was on 6th street across from the Hilton now the Graduate i think.. The Jensen Brothers owned and/or managed several bars along the way, including Good Times, Jubilee, Giggles etc. Jim Jenson moved to Costa Rica in the 90s to operate a really cool blues/American sports bar (from the Good Times mold) in Playas del Cocos. Jim built an awesome business before selling it and moving back to Eugene about 2015.
Both are old enough to want to retire anyway.
Best memory was not the bars but seeing Jim and Huey Lewis face-to-face at the bar on the top floor of the Hilton. The were literally identical twins.
La Vida Loca, the local watering hole on the beach in Playas del Coco, had its Grand Re-Opening on Saturday night (Oct 26/14). A great time was had by all! Jimbo, the long-standing owner of La Vida Loca has moved on to advent...
LaVidaLoca is a must see bar in Playas del Coco,Guanacaste, Costa Rica Live Music, Night life, Playas del CocoPlayas del Coco' La Vida Loca Beach Bar & Gril...
Just heard The Duck is closing on Jan 2, 2023! Supposedly the owners are having trouble making ends meet financially! First Old Historic Hayward Field comes down and now The Duck closes! Sad to see!
I'm not too worried. It was The Villard before it was the Wild Duck, so they'll probably just open a new pub in its place. If not, I like the Wild Goat nearby and they're open later. There was also at least one year between the closing of the Villard and construction of the building that Wild Duck is in that the hot spot was moved to another nearby place.
Bad news to wake up to on New Year's Eve. The Wild Duck was the go-to hangout spot after big meets in Eugene. You never knew who you would bump into there, but it was always a good time.
What was your favorite story from the Wild Duck? I'm sure LetsRun nation has some good ones...
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