Get your fix at the Mix

Local bar celebrates two years in Tacoma

By Jill Russell

Over the past decade, business owners have rolled up their sleeves in an attempt to resurrect Tacoma’s social scene. Many traded in the expensive swank of Seattle for a more low-key life in the South Sound.

Others, like Brock Leach and Jonathan Rouse, have always seen Tacoma’s potential and have chosen from the beginning to start businesses here.

And so far for this duo, taking a gamble on Tacoma has paid off.

Leach and Rouse, co-owners of The Mix, a bar located on St. Helens Avenue, are celebrating the two-year anniversary of their business this month. They purchased the space, formerly Ida’s Pub, in 2008. Although the bar caters mostly to members of the LGBT community, Leach affirms that the goal of the business is to provide a fun, safe, social space for everyone to relax, meet new people and have a good time.

“We never set out to make it an exclusive gay bar,” Leach said. “We all live in the same neighborhood. I don’t like groups to be separate because they are considered different.” The Mix is a full-service bar serving premium and well liquor, microbrews, domestic beer and wine. Patrons can partake in happy hour from 2-7 p.m. every day and other drink specials. Recently, the Mix partnered with Pacific Grill to serve sandwiches, salads and pasta.

Inside, visitors will find all sorts of accommodations, including free Wi-Fi, a pool table, darts and a jukebox. The bar also hosts many themed nights, including karaoke and Wii bowling.

Within the past month the bar has undergone major renovations, which included refinishing the bar, updating the lighting and creating more space for dancing. Leach said during the renovations, the community was extremely supportive, often volunteering to help with whatever projects needed to be done.

“We had at least 10 volunteers each day, all day long,” he said. “It was just amazing because the people feel a sense of ownership in this place.”

For these co-owners, building a business from the ground up has been a labor of love. Both carefully balance their day jobs – Brock teaches classes at Tacoma Community College and Highline Community College and Rouse teaches French at Puyallup High School – while pouring their blood, sweat and tears into making The Mix a place to be proud of.

Leach said the biggest lesson he has learned from being a business owner is their customers can often be their biggest resource.

“We’ve been really blessed with the people who come to our bar,” Leach said. “They are always offering to help in any way. It’s been very humbling and amazing.”

And what have they learned about the people of Tacoma?

“They are very generous. My business partner and I love being here. It’s been amazing to get so much support from community. They are kind of like family.”

The Mix is located at 635 St Helens Ave. in Tacoma. For more information call (253) 383-4327 or visit www.themixtacoma.com.

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PHOTO BOOTH OF THE DAMNED

Sitting innocently in the corner of a bar nestled in downtown Tacoma is a booth cordoned off by a blue curtain. Many would have you believe that it’s merely a photo-booth — no more, no less. But the truth, dear reader, is quite chilling. This unassuming booth has been home to innumerable unspeakable acts of depravity. I speak, of course, of the photo-booth in The Mix. Some say that on a dark autumn’s night you can still hear … but you should see for yourself.

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SEX, DRUGS AND ROCK ‘N’ ROLL WEEKLY VOLCANO PICKS 2009

Although lately you can find Jordan behind the bar of Tacoma hot spot The Mix, his face may be more familiar than you realize. Think: MLKBallet, Tempest Lounge, and 1022’s South predecessor — The Monsoon Room. Gunderson seems to have become a staple to the downtown scene, so seeing him behind the bar during my latest visit to The Mix was no surprise to me.

I caught Gunderson on his birthday as he shared with me his party plans, future plans, and plans to make more plans. Never before have I seen someone so free to live life to its fullest, yet harbor the ability to do so with responsibility and tact. I admired Gunderson as he displayed photos of clever T-shirt ideas and bounced along to his YouTube playlist. Time spent with Gunderson is time well spent. And after spending time with Gunderson is, well, when you’re simply spent.
 
STEPH DEROSA: It’s your birthday, plus I hear there’s an anniversary coming up.

JORDAN GUNDERSON: Yes, it’s my birthday today! I wore a tiara for the occasion. And you heard right, it is the one year anniversary of The Mix. We’ll be partying here all weekend, starting Thursday.

DEROSA: Excellent! Go on …

GUNDERSON: Thursday night is “Porn Star Night” with suicide karaoke and T-shirt giveaways.

DEROSA: You’d do anything to dress up like a porn star, wouldn’t you? I bet you even have your cheesy costume with you already.

GUNDERSON: Yep! I will be a ’70s porn star, complete with a polyester suit and a really thick ’70s porn moustache.

DEROSA: Please tell me your shirt will be unbuttoned down to your belly button.

GUNDERSON: Of course it will. Then Friday night is the “White Party”, and I’ll be bartending in nothing but white underwear.

DEROSA: Oh, man. Gay or straight, I don’t care — that’s HOT.

GUNDERSON: Saturday night will be the “Spring Fling” party with free food from Pacific Grill, karaoke, and dirty bingo. Steph, you heard that, right? I said DIRTY bingo.

DEROSA: Mmmm, dirty. I heard that. I can tell we’re going to be long time friends.

GUNDERSON: Yes, but not here in Tacoma. I’m moving to Chicago next moth.

DEROSA: What does Chicago have that Tacoma doesn’t?

GUNDERSON: I’m going to join a few dance schools in the Chicago area. Males are really in demand, and plus I’ve always loved Chicago.

DEROSA: OK, fine. But you need to tell me at least one thing you’ll miss about The Mix.

GUNDERSON: The photo booth!

DEROSA: Ever had to wipe it down afterward?

GUNDERSON: Only once. It was quite the display. I don’t think the girl and guy inside realized people could see through the curtain.

DEROSA: That’s hilarious! Do you have a tiara for me? Let’s get a birthday picture in the photo booth together.

GUNDERSON: Oh you bet I have a tiara for you, and watch out — I’m magic in that photo booth.

DEROSA: Excellent!

MIX CO-OWNER BROCK: Great. Make that two times we’ve had to wipe it down afterward.

[The Mix, 635 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.383.4327]

Please let me draw your attention to what I call St. Helens Heaven.

Each time I stop into Puget Sound Pizza, there are more people than ever having a blast eating pizza and singing karaoke with Colin. I’ve also heard that a certain female T-Town celebrity might be bartending there soon (stay tuned via our blog, www.weeklyvolcanospew.com).
 

When I bust into Maxwell’s, I’m always so delighted to see that both the dining room and the bar are full of fans, and there’s really nothing better than lovin’ on that tasty food and flirting with Dreamy David the bartender.
 

But nestled between these two destinations is a business that’s changing the face of St. Helens as each week passes.
 

And I, of all peeps, should know because I recently helped wash and paint the walls of this establishment.
 

Ladies and gentlemen, you need to get your fix on The Mix.
 

The Mix, formerly Ida’s Pub, was recently purchased by the sweetest Jonathan Rouse and endearing Brock Leach.
 

At first they were a little nervous about letting people know that the ownership had changed hands because they had so many plans to redevelop the joint, and they wanted people to check out their spot after some major changes had been made.
 

Well, now is the time.
 

One of the simplest improvements was the guys uncovered the windows. Now you can see into the spot, and admire the elegant logo and branding designed specifically for The Mix by the incredible Beth McBride.
 

Inside, you’ll find all sorts of major enhancements, including fresh paint, cool booths, a shiny silver wall, and a space that’s so free from the former cluttered appearance.
 

The crowd that hangs out at The Mix denotes the name itself. There you’ll find previous Ida’s regulars, a gorgeous gay crowd (including Carmen’s Gay Husband), restaurant industry folks who always know what’s up, and hip people both young and old. I’ve never seen that place so full in my T-Town career.
 

Those who sit in the room below can watch the karaoke killers, and sitting above is where it’s at for chatting with your friends and hugging on bartender Robby.
 

I’ve been rockin’ The Mix very often lately to watch the progress of this space, and only more changes are to come.
 

But more than anything, I feel really good about spending my money at The Mix because everyone who works there, especially Rouse and Leach, are such good, good people, and they’re working very hard to improve this neighborhood bar in both redevelopment and ambiance.
 

That’s why I hope you’ll Mix it with me now!

Meet The Mix

Friend Beth McBride designed the new logo that now graces The Mix’s front windows. One of the first things the new owners did was rip down drapes that once covered the front windows, and rally-up some window artwork that you can see from the street. McBride graciously credits Artwork Signs for the implementation of the art and signage.

Due to the kitchen limitations and health department regulations, food will be frozen or pre-packaged. Oh, and you can still get a Hungry Man dinner — but it will cost you $15. Why the high price? “Because we want to keep them for ourselves,” states Jon. The Mix is certainly not shy about sending you to Puget Sound Pizza for some grub; they love their new pizza-making neighbors.

Fine beers and wines will make their debut appearance at The Mix starting next week, and you can still quench your thirst with what liquor Ida’s Pub always had on hand.

Karaoke will be rockin’ the joint Friday and Saturday nights, the free pool table is not going anywhere, and the new atmosphere is an all-encompassing one. Brock and Johnathan both emphasized that The Mix is a neighborhood bar, a fun time, and a place for everyone to socialize. There is no genre, no demographic, no median income, and no lifestyle preference. “It’s not so much a pick-up joint as it is just friends getting together,” notes Brock.

During the day, you have the regulars — the Ida’s crowd. At night the bar is filled with a social swarm of many different people. According to Brock and Jon, The Mix has been filled to the rim with bar patrons for the last few weekends — and things are only looking up.

What I wanted to know was: What happened to the infamous faux fireplace Bandito Betty posed in front of for my Bar Exam picture? Well, I found out that it was sold for a few hundred dollars to a neighborhood man who apparently wanted it very badly. There were definitely no tears shed, as Brock and Jon had no quandaries about selling it to him immediately upon his request.

Sorry Bandito Betty, the fireplace is gone. We’ll simply have to drop into The Mix and find warmth in the comfort of St. Helen’s fantastic new neighborhood bar.