Soapy Smith's Pioneer Restaurant

The girl on the wall
well-known landmark in Fairbanks, Alaska

he website for DownTownFairbanks has the following story about the Soapy Smith's Pioneer Restaurant in Fairbanks, Alaska. I have yet to make it that far north but if I do you know where to find me. This is the last of the 3 known Soapy Smith named restaurants around the country and the only one I have not eaten in yet.

SOAPY’S ROCK ‘N’ ROLL ROOFTOP DECK

by Amy Nordrum

In 1996, Nick Stepovich stepped out onto the scorched roof of Soapy Smith’s Pioneer Restaurant, his family-owned business on 2nd Avenue in downtown Fairbanks, and thought to himself, “This space was meant to be a deck.”

Soon after, his wife Christina helped him knock out a wall and build a sun-drenched deck for customers of Soapy’s, billed as one of the most authentic Alaskan joints in the Interior and serving up trademark King Crab burgers, delicious seafood chowder, prime rib, halibut, and salmon to locals on lunch break and curious visitors.

Sixteen years later, the second story deck of Soapy Smith’s has received a major facelift.

This spring, Nick expanded the deck and installed additional cafe and bar seating, doubling its capacity and adorning it with flower boxes and shade umbrellas. Patrons can perch atop bar stools lining the outer rim of the deck and order a cold one (Soapy’s serves bottled Silver Gulch and Alaskan beers, as well as wine) or choose from a list of appetizers. All while overlooking the street bustle of 2nd Avenue under the “watchful eyes” of the Soapy Smith’s lady painted on the building’s wall and made famous by Into the Wild, who also happens to be knocking one back.

Which means at Soapy’s—you’ll never drink alone.

Nick says to expect growler nights and live music on the new deck later this summer. Better yet, the deck will host a Midnight Sun Beer Garden for the Midnight Sun Festival (Sunday, June 24th) during which music from the MAC Caribou Stage is well within earshot. Festival-goers can climb to the rooftop of Soapy’s and watch the street fair unfold from a bird’s eye view.

Soapy Smith’s is already well-known for its homespun atmosphere and local artifacts like the original theatre seats from the Empress Theatre in the Co-Op Plaza. Nick has a long political and family history in the state which he shares with customers in floor shows during busy times and memorabilia that hangs on every wall.

As Nick puts it, “You’ve got to come to Alaska to get to Soapy Smith’s.” There’s no other place quite like it in the city, state, or elsewhere.

Need one last reason to frequent the new deck atop Soapy’s? It’s the exclusive turf of Bill, the hard-working and sarcastic Soapy’s waiter who never meets a customer without making a new friend.

Tell him we sent you.

Where:
Soapy Smith’s Pioneer Restaurant
543 2nd Avenue

When:
Monday-Saturday, 11:00AM-9:00PM

Phone:
(907) 451-8380

Soapy Smith's Restaurant
May 9, 2012 
May 23, 2011
May 6, 2011
December 19, 2008
August 25, 2008

JUNE 14

1775: The Continental Army is founded by the Second Continental Congress for purposes of common defense. This event is considered to be the birth of the United States Army. On June 15, George Washington is appointed commander-in-chief. 

1777: The Continental Congress in Philadelphia adopts the "Stars and Stripes" as the national flag of the United States. 

1834: Cyrus Hall McCormick receives a patent for his reaping machine. 

1834: Isaac Fischer Jr. patents sandpaper. 

1846: A group of U.S. settlers in Sonoma (Mexico at the time) proclaim the Republic of California. 

1865: In Idaho Territory Crazy Horse leads an escape of mostly Sioux Indians, being relocated to Fort Kearney, Nebraska, from the U.S. Cavalry. 

1872: Fort McKeen is established, south of present day Bismarck, North Dakota (Dakota Territory). 

1875: Jefferson Davis declines offer to become the first president of Texas Agricultural and Mechanical University. 

1877: A shootout erupts on the street of Lampasas, Texas as friends and brothers of Clint Barkley run into rival ranchers. Frank Mitchell is killed. 

1882: Outlaw Charles Earl Bowles, known as “Black Bart,” robs the Little Lake-Ukiah stage in California. 1882: Arizona Territory “cowboy-outlaw” John Ringo's body is found shot through the head, sitting under a tree by a passing teamster in the Chiricahua Mountains. Ringo's pistol was clutched in his right hand. The coroner ruled it a suicide, but some claimed he was murdered. 

1893: Philadelphia observes the first Flag Day. 

1900: Hawaii became a U.S. territory.