The Doublewide is home of the signature The Doozy Bloody Mary.
DOWN THE HILL from Saint Nicholas Catholic Church and along the street named Saint Joseph rests a doublewide trailer. No one lives there. Rather, the doublewide is The Doublewide, a popular bar in Elko New Market.
Not that I’ve ever stepped inside the bar. I’ve only photographed the exterior and checked out the business website and Facebook page.
The bar hosted a vintage snowmobile show and beer bash in January.
Why bother? Because I’m interested. And what I learned indicates The Doublewide is more than just a place to grab a beer and shoot a game of pool. It’s a place for the community to come together whether for a meat raffle; entertainment in the form of BINGO, live music or karaoke; a vintage snowmobile show; a combo fashion show-wine tasting; open mic night; bean bag league; and more.
It seems fitting that the bar is situated along a street named after a patron saint of working people. I’m inclined to think that good hard-working Minnesotans are drawn to The Doublewide for the sense of community, of caring for one another.
TELL ME: Is there a Doublewide in your community?
© Copyright 2017 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
The sign caught my attention where it says “on off sale” at the bottom. What is that, do you know?
Apparently you don’t use this wordage in Massachusetts. That means you can purchase liquor “on” premises to consume there and you can buy liquor to take with you and consume “off” premises.
Aha, that is truly not in the Massachusetts lingo.. For sure! Thanks for the information Audrey.
You are welcome. I always find these regional differences to be so interesting.
We have a few local hangouts in town. Love the name – Doublewide. I have thought Medicine Shop would be a good name for a local hangout. Cheers to a Happy Weekend – Enjoy 🙂
Medicine Shop…yup seems like it would fit.
Love the name and your theories about who goes to The Doublewide. I bet you are right. I bet is is where everyone knows your name! And your mom and dad’s name. And the name of your kids.
And heads swivel when a stranger walks in the door.
And then the stranger perches on a stool and smiles and starts chatting with the person next to him as the bartender slaps down his beer
I like that.
I love the name!
Yeah, it’s pretty fitting and clever.
Yes! I live a few miles from there and have never been there… Enjoy your local posts…
Thank you, Joan, for reading Minnesota Prairie Roots and appreciating my work. Now you need to check out The Doublewide.
I like the name, too! The community feel you mention is something that also exists in neighborhood coffeehouses where people make a habit of picking up morning coffee. Since part of my childhood included life in a mobile home, I would absolutely have to stop in at the Doublewide if I were in the neighborhood. 🙂
I can see where neighborhood coffeehouses would offer the same. Thanks for sharing that.
If you’re ever in Elko New Market, let me know.
That’s an interesting name for a bar. I used to work in a bar and cafe named the Happy Hour. It was fun then but I’m not sure that I could handle it in my old age.
I think working at a bar/cafe would be challenging at times.
The double wide is an awesome place. Great staff and service. Always something going on. Typical Elko-new market bar.
Thanks for the endorsement, Mark.
What a great article! Really wish you woulda came inside and said Hi!
There’s always next time, Josh. Thanks for the personal invitation.
This is kind of a joke between my husband and me. If we stopped everywhere I wanted to stop and photograph and do a story, we’d never get anywhere. Some days “getting nowhere” is OK. Next time we’re in town…