Kelley’s Grill

I was only there as a 5 year old with my grandfather circa 1980, but I still remember sitting with him drinking a root beer while he got drunk in anticipation for the drive back up the mountain. Glad to see Kelley’s is still around!

Coming from out of town with a brit in-​tow, we were looking for a real american experience. Kelley’s did not dissapoint. A Spirited scene on both sides of the bar, cheap drinks, and sports on every television. All inside of a bar that’s been in operation since before WW2… Hard to find places like this now-​a-​days. Go in and have yourself a beer.

OK place for a brew. Inconspicous looking place from the outside, clean enough on the inside. Drinks are cold cheap. Plus they have a #shuffleboard table!

First thing to remember when you walk into Kelley’s is that it is a local place. Everyone knows each other and the owner/​bartender, John Kelley, knows everyone. He bought the bar from his father in 1993 who’d bought it in 1965. It’s been a bar since 1936 and most recently survived 40″ of flood water from Irene in 2011.
We walked in with some trepidation for the first time after passing it for 12 years because my husband wanted a draft beer for his birthday. Three choices — Bud, Genesee and Bud Light, all perfect for a very hot day after a swim. We each settled on a pint of Bud and when I counted the change from my $ 20 it came to $ 17! Yes, a pint is $ 1.50! Cheapest beer I’ve had in years. It was icy cold and fresh too. There was also a selection of beer in bottles and a full, well stocked bar. We didn’t eat but others at the bar did and it looked good. John said they serve «bar food.»
The atmosphere is what some might describe as a dive bar but I think of it as «historical.» There is a super long shuffleboard table which appears to be unused, wood paneling and every inch of wall space is covered with beer/​liquor promo items or pictures or tchotkes of some kind. The bar is worn formica and the floor standard linoleum. There is, however, an internet jukebox, three TVs showing sports and various phone chargers behind the bar that patrons can use so it’s not all 20^th century.
Here’s the real reason to go – the comfortable local flavor. We arrived a bit before 5 and as we sat there, more people — almost all men — came in for their Friday after work drinks. The talk was heavily sprinkled with the F-​word, local gossip, a discussion of opening day at Saratoga and Joe Walsh. People were friendly once we were there for a while and by the time we left, we were being called by our names, teased as if we were old friends and advised to stay for another beer and «take the back roads» home. I’d go back for happy hour another Friday for sure.