New Bedford’s 25 Closed-Down Bars That Are Impossible to Forget

In the city of New Bedford, bars and restaurants are a dime a dozen, with a personality that comes with each establishment. Over the years, bars have shut down and new ones have replaced them, but only physically. Although these bars come and go, they will always be remembered for the good times had.

I've only been a resident in New Bedford for only a few years now but have gotten to know the area pretty well, well enough to see bars close their doors for the last time and well enough to celebrate new beginnings as new bars come along.

Growing up, one of my favorite bars to hang out at once I turned 21 was the New Wave Café in the North End. Yeah, it might have been somewhat of a rough area, but New Wave was full of good people who looked out for each other. I liked that the most. Sadly, the owner Paulo Mendes had to close his doors and we all said goodbye to the Pearly Baker Band homestead.

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While enjoying a hot cup of clam chowder one day down at Rose Alley, I bumped into a friend, Caleb Duarte, and we began strolling down memory lane of all the places we used to hang out at that are no longer around anymore. That's when I realized that the list was extensive, yet nostalgic.

Each bar that has moved on told its own stories through the eyes of its patrons, the scratch marks on the felt of pool tables, and the memories made at two in the morning.

Here's a list of New Bedford watering holes, some that are still there under a new name, that were once a late-night destination but are no longer with us.