Johnny Cash used to raise hell there. Merle Haggard would drop in and sing a few songs when he was in town. The place was one of the hottest honky tonks on the West Coast during the California’s country music hey days in the 1960s. It was even named the Honky Tonk of the year in 1966 by the Country Music Association. Back then recognition by the CMA meant something.

The Ban-Dar on Main Street in Ventura should have been declared a historic landmark. Instead, it was torn down. They didn’t even preserve the old sign.

At least the owner sounds like somebody who had the background and common sense to understand the gravity and sadness of the day. Maybe the Ban-Dar’s passing couldn’t be helped.