Will the Oxford Saloon Keep Its Missoula Late-Night Legacy?

If you've spent more than ten minutes in downtown Missoula after midnight, odds are pretty good you've found yourself at the Oxford. Not because you meant to, but because somehow the gravitational pull of this 24/7 institution has been reeling in night owls since the 1890s. With a large collection of guns on the wall and the world-famous J.J.'s Special. Read More: The History of Missoula's Oxford Saloon |

Poker Nights and Plate-Sized Memories

For me, it was not just about the food. I easily played more hours of poker at the Oxford than in my own living room. Old west-style three-card stud, high-low split seven card, $.25 ante every hand, and $3 bets. It was the kind of game where you either walked out with rent money or enough of a story to make losing worth it. And for those times the cards fell short, there was that chicken-fried steak floating in spicy gravy, with hash browns and eggs to soak up the night. https://youtu.be/UxCgA5a0M5s

A Personal Connection

Jo Ann, former Oxford owner, wasn't just running a business; she was operating a piece of Missoula's very soul. We became friends through the sponsorships of our station. I got one of those birthday cards from her every single year, without fail. Not an email. Not a Facebook post. A real card. She was that kind of person.

The Big Question

After over 130 years, the Oxford is on the market. NBC Montana says the building and business are for sale. Does that mean the Oxford could potentially go away, or will it remain a Missoula late-night anchor? Is it something that someone actually wants to keep alive, or just another trendy downtown hangout? In my dreams, we are playing Pearl Jam on a classic jukebox, the cards are left on the table, and there is chicken-fried steak swimming in spicy gravy. A Missoula without the Oxford just wouldn't seem quite right.