King Eddy's Saloon And Little Joy Get Renovated

Two of L.A.'s beloved bars get a new lease on life

Los Angeles' preservationist spirit is in full stride these days, especially when it comes to two of the city's most historic dive bars.

King Eddy's Saloon, which holds the oldest active liquor license in the city, closed for renovation after a buyout by the owners of Spring Street Bar.

The good news for disciples of the reopened Skid Row landmark: Much of King Eddy's noirish grit, er, charm has remained intact, from the well-worn wooden bar top to the vintage artwork and creaky jukebox.

The stiff pours still hover near recession-era prices: You can pony up with a tumbler of Old Crow ($5) or crack open a can of Old Chub Scotch ale ($4). If you're hungry, grab a corn dog ($4).

In Echo Park, populist pub Little Joy also benefited from a similar restorative overhaul. In service as a bar since the 1960s, the onetime auto-repair shop was stripped to its brick-and-plaster roots, then retrofitted with a touch of grungy Art Deco flair.

Choose from eight taps of local beer, such as Port Wipeout IPA ($7) and a decent lineup of liquor, including L.A.'s own Slow Hand Organic Whiskey ($7).

And don't worry: They kept the pool table.