Stories from the Slab
Devin Heilman | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 10 years AGO
<p>Slab Inn owner Randy Berlin of Post Falls points to a few of the historical items that hang on the wall, including a menu from 1934 and a photo of the establishment when it first opened.</p>
<p>According to longtime Slab Inn patron Bob McComb of Spokane, this horse tie in the rear of the Slab was constructed to ensure that patrons' horses would be secured after an incident where horses belonging to McComb and a friend were tied to the front of the building and actually ripped part of the building down. McComb and his friend had to repair the building and build the tie.</p>
<p>Connie and Walt Glass of Rathdrum visit in front of the Slab Inn on Sunday afternoon. The couple danced into each others' hearts when they met at the Slab in 1998.</p>
POST FALLS — Connie Glass danced into her husband Walt’s heart while taking dance lessons at the Slab Inn back in 1998.
She had just gone through a divorce and was taking charge of her life. She loves to dance, and was ready to do something for herself. She began coming in on Saturday nights to practice her moves on the dance floor, even though she doesn’t drink and doesn’t consider herself the “bar type.”
“That’s when I met him,” she said.
Walt, who has been a Slab patron since 1978, said he noticed the pretty girl and wanted to ask her to dance for about three weeks, but he was afraid of being rejected. Then fate intervened.
“I was walking over to ask him to dance,” Connie said, smiling sweetly.
“And I was walking over to ask her to dance,” he said. “She stopped, I stopped, and we started talking.”
Connie, 61, and Walt, 76, enjoyed dancing together and fell in love. The Rathdrum couple celebrated with a wedding in 2002.
“Bing, you know, the bells rang and little hearts started flying and this guy with a bow and arrow got me,” Walt said with a grin. “From the beginning I was hooked. I guess the old fart was lucky.”
Walt and Connie’s romance is just one of many stories from the Slab Inn, billed as the oldest country honky tonk in the Northwest.
The Slab, on Seltice Way, was built in 1934 and has seen its share of love, music, horses, ghosts, dancing and even serves as a church on Sundays.
“It’s been great,” said Pastor Dave Hoit of Hayden, who helps run the gospel groups each week. “For me, it’s probably my favorite part of Sunday. I look forward to the Slab ... we do more of an interactive time, we’re telling the stories about Jesus, then we talk about it ... there’s no stigmas. There’s a lot of freedom, you just want to love people and love Jesus.”
Randy Berlin and his wife, Deborah, of Post Falls, have owned the country watering hole for 18 years.
“It has a lot of memories for people,” Randy said.
The Belins strive to maintain the spirit of country music and many of the bands that perform on the Slab’s stage play songs from classic artists such as Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings and Patsy Cline.
“I’m going back to tradition,” Randy said. “When you come to my club, you are going to hear honky tonk.”
The Slab hosted a “Raise the Roof” event Sunday evening to bring more members of the public into the club to help keep country alive. Steve Starkey, the Border Patrol Band, the Shayne Rammler Band, the Spokane River Band and Coeur d’Alene’s own 9-Lives Band performed as several people kicked up their heels on the dance floor. The event also included a potluck, a silent auction and a raffle.
“Things are just tough, this industry is tough,” Randy said.
Before the Berlins owned the Slab, it had a reputation for being a rowdy joint. Walt remembers those days.
“As long as you played it straight and you were honest with everybody, you know, I didn’t have a problem with anybody,” Walt said. “I didn’t have to run home.”
Nowadays, the Slab serves as welcoming, social place where people with an ear for classic country can relax and dance if they want to.
“When people come in here, they feel at home,” Randy said. “They feel no pressure. It’s just a very hand-shakey and huggy atmosphere, and that’s how we work here. When we get to know people, we always have hugs, handshakes and it makes them feel special. That’s what it’s all about.”
Info: www.facebook.com/TheSlabInn