Formerly: Ashby and Leak · Missouri Saloon · Louvre Theatre and Bar · Imperial Saloon
Juneau, Alaska · Founded 1891
A Juneau Front Street bar with roots in an 1891 Gold Rush-era saloon, reshaped by fire, prohibition, and repeated reinvention.
Imperial Bar and Grill occupies a Front Street site whose saloon history reaches to 1891, when Thomas and Oscar Ashby and William Leak opened a bar variously known as Ashby and Leak and The Missouri. The business later became the Louvre Theatre and Bar, survived a 1906 fire, and passed through several non-bar uses during Alaska’s prohibition era. The present Imperial name emerged under J. J. Stocker’s ownership and resumed legal alcohol service after prohibition ended.
Thomas and Oscar Ashby and William Leak establish a Front Street saloon called Ashby and Leak, later known as The Missouri.
Source: Juneau Independent, "Imperial Bar has a long history"; Imperial Bar official history
The business is renamed the Louvre Theatre and Bar and advertises live music and theatrical performances.
Source: Juneau Independent, "Imperial Bar has a long history"
A fire nearly destroys the Louvre Theatre building; the Front Street structure is rebuilt soon afterward.
Source: Juneau Independent, "Imperial Bar has a long history"
J. J. "Joe" Stocker purchases the saloon business before Alaska's Bone Dry Law takes effect.
Source: Juneau Independent, "Imperial Bar has a long history"; Imperial Bar official history
The Louvre Theatre closes and the Front Street building later serves non-bar commercial uses during Alaska's prohibition period.
Source: Juneau Independent, "Imperial Bar has a long history"
Alaska's Bone Dry Law takes effect, interrupting legal alcohol sales. The Front Street building is used as a mercantile store, cigar store, and billiard parlor during the prohibition period.
Source: Juneau Independent, "Imperial Bar has a long history"
Within weeks of prohibition's end, Stocker obtains one of Alaska's early alcohol licenses and legal bar service resumes at the Front Street location.
Source: Juneau Independent, "Imperial Bar has a long history"
Stocker adds a third floor to the building, contributing to its present-day appearance.
Source: Juneau Independent, "Imperial Bar has a long history"
Local reporting describes the Imperial as a popular Front Street bar and eatery serving drinks, smash burgers, and nonalcoholic options.
Source: Juneau Independent, "Imperial Bar has a long history"
Every claim gets rated. A business's own website can never earn "documented."
The Imperial and local Alaska reporting identify the Front Street business as Alaska's oldest bar, with roots in an 1891 saloon. The claim requires a statewide comparison with other old Alaska bars, and its "operating" continuity is complicated by the 1906 fire, multiple name and use changes, and the interruption of legal alcohol sales during Alaska's 1918–1933 prohibition period.
The Front Street business began as a saloon in 1891 but was nearly destroyed by fire in 1906, changed names and uses, and did not legally sell alcohol during Alaska's Bone Dry Law and national Prohibition period. The building housed a mercantile, cigar store, and billiard parlor before bar service resumed after prohibition.
The 1891 bar began as Ashby and Leak and then The Missouri. The business later used the Louvre Theatre and Bar name, while the Imperial identity developed later under J. J. Stocker's ownership.
The major documented fire occurred in 1906, not 1914. Available history says the building was rebuilt soon afterward and gained a third-floor addition in 1935; this review found no support for a 1914 concrete replacement building.
The Imperial Saloon was established in 1891.
The 1891 Front Street bar began as Ashby and Leak and then The Missouri. It later became the Louvre Theatre and Bar before the Imperial identity emerged under J. J. Stocker.
Source: Juneau Independent, "Imperial Bar has a long history"; Imperial Bar official history
The current Imperial building is a concrete replacement constructed after a 1914 fire.
The documented major fire occurred in 1906. The building was rebuilt soon afterward and gained a third-floor addition in 1935; this review found no source supporting a 1914 concrete replacement.
Source: Juneau Independent, "Imperial Bar has a long history"
The Imperial has operated continuously as a saloon since 1891.
The Front Street business had several names and uses and did not legally sell alcohol during Alaska's 1918–1933 prohibition period.
Source: Juneau Independent, "Imperial Bar has a long history"
The Imperial survived because the Front Street business kept adapting to Juneau’s changing economy and laws. Its lineage includes a gold-rush saloon, theater, mercantile, cigar store, billiard parlor, and later bar and grill—not a simple uninterrupted business under one name. That layered history, along with its downtown location and late-night food-and-drink role, gives it a durable local identity.
Imperial Bar and Grill in Juneau, Alaska, occupies a Front Street bar site with roots in 1891, when Thomas and Oscar Ashby and William Leak opened a saloon known as Ashby and Leak and later The Missouri. The business became the Louvre Theatre and Bar, survived a 1906 fire, and changed uses during Alaska’s prohibition period. The present Imperial bar later resumed legal alcohol service after prohibition ended.
Imperial Bar and Grill publicly identifies its 1891 Front Street lineage as Alaska’s oldest bar, but this review cannot verify a statewide winner. The history is complicated by a 1906 fire, multiple name and business-use changes, and a 1918–1933 interruption in legal alcohol service during Alaska’s Bone Dry Law and national Prohibition.
Yes. Imperial Bar and Grill operates at 241 Front Street in downtown Juneau and currently serves food and drinks. Its posted hours can change seasonally or for events, so visitors should confirm the current schedule directly with the bar before visiting.
241 Front St, Juneau, AK 99801
(907) 586-1960
The Imperial is a downtown bar and grill with late-night service; confirm current hours, food availability, and age requirements before visiting.