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Club Scene:
The Mill
1417 West Genesee Street
Syracuse, NY
by Megan Horsington
Before purchasing The Mill on West Genesee Street five years ago, Maureen Maher had plenty of time to establish her a name for herself in the local bar and restaurant industry. Baldwinsville’s Bush Mill Tavern was Maher’s professional home for seventeen years before good timing inspired her to try her luck with the Syracuse city bar named The Mill.
Maher and her 27-year-old daughter, Jessica Bush, have since teamed up to establish the friendly and relaxed atmosphere that characterizes the homey neighborhood watering hole. The Mill appeals to all age groups, thanks in large part to the distinctive mentalities of the mother-daughter duo that collaborates to make the bar a welcoming refuge for a diverse group of thirsty Syracusans.
Patrons can always expect familiar faces behind the bar, with Maher, Bush, and Maher’s niece rotating bartending shifts. The mostly blue-collar daytime crowd generally gives way to a younger group as night sets in and local bands and DJs set up shop. Still, a comfortable mingling of all age groups makes the tavern an appealing venue for any curious visitor at any time of day. “We have a very, very diverse crowd,” says Maher.
The Mill generally sees the greatest turnout Thursday through Saturday nights, when DJs or bands, including a variety of local heavy metal favorites, provide musical entertainment. On Thursdays, DJ Seedz generally begins the night with a mix of oldies, followed later by more contemporary selections. “He plays a lot of old school blues for me,” says Bush, divulging her personal music preference, to “keep the bartender happy,” she adds with a smile. DJ Rob 4 You holds Karaoke Night every Saturday, when guests abandon their inhibitions to belt out a variety of oldies and modern tunes.
“There is a big emphasis on great music (at The Mill),” explains Bush. On nights with no band or DJ scheduled, the bar jukebox is kept playing constantly. Live bands are generally performers of heavy metal music, but the bar has seen its share of blues and oldies bands as well. Performers are usually found based on work-of-mouth recommendations by friends and patrons. According to Bush, musicians will occasionally slip the bar managers a copy of a CD in hopes of securing a spot on The Mill’s live music schedule. However, Maher and Bush consider themselves very lucky to continuously secure popular and appealing musicians principally as a result of recommendations.
Music is not the only draw for patrons of The Mill. Crowds often gather to enjoy drink specials, including two dollar domestic bottles during Syracuse university basketball games. The jukebox is turned off when S.U. games are aired so that guests are better able to hear and enjoy the action. Happy Hour, which is held from four to seven p.m., Monday through Friday, entices customers with dollar-fifty specials on all cans of beer.
An annual steak bake will be held on Sunday, February 15th to kick off the Nascar racing season. Guests are encouraged to drop in between noon and four p.m. to enjoy a seven dollar New York Strip Steak, all-you-can-eat buffet and drink specials while watching the opening race in Daytona. The Mill airs races throughout the Nascar season, which concludes with another steak bake. Additional food options during these events include chili, baked ziti, Swedish meatballs, sausage sandwiches with sautéed peppers and onions, meat trays, cucumber salad, deviled eggs and more. All food is homemade by Maher and Bush.
There never seems to be a dull moment at the tavern Bush describes as being as comfortable and inviting as a living room. Dart league games occupy guests on Monday and Wednesday evenings, and pool leagues hold games on Thursdays. Occasionally, on an otherwise quiet Sunday afternoon, bartenders and guests will kick off their version of the bar Olympics, participating in “triathlons” composed of pinball, dart and pool games. “We just want to have a good time,” explains Bush referring to herself and Maher, and to find ways “for everyone else to have a good time” as well.
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/themillsyracuse.