New owners to preserve history of Scottsdale’s Rusty Spur
How Rusty Spur’s new owners will preserve its decades-long history
On a quiet Thursday morning in Old Town Scottsdale, only a few tourists carrying coffee dot the often-busy streets. In the middle of the shopping and dining district, servers slowly trickle into historic saloon the Rusty Spur to start their shifts. The cluttered bar resonates with anticipation of a busy weekend ahead.
A stuffed buffalo head looms near the entrance. Dollar bills stapled to the wall, which are donated once a year to the Phoenix Children’s Hospital, flutter as the saloon doors swing. A minimal, raised triangular stage wedged into the front corner awaits live music, which is a daily occurrence at the bar.
Neon beer signs, some including the bar’s name and logo, shine red and white across the dark room. A taxidermy fish gapes in a corner.
Some of the decor is as old as the saloon itself. According to the bar’s previous owner, murals from the bank that once occupied the space still hang behind the wood-paneled walls.
The building has been standing in Old Town Scottsdale for 100 years. For seven decades of that long span, it’s been known as the Rusty Spur.
The red brick building, constructed in 1921, housed Scottsdale’s first bank, according to Arizona Republic archives. Then it was the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce building and, afterward, a realty office. In 1951, owners opened the Rusty Spur Cafe. In 1958 the cafe was transformed into a saloon.
This year, as this essential part of Scottsdale history celebrates seven decades, the Rusty Spur changed hands. Previously, Susan Anderson ran the bar for close to 20 years. After an extensive search for just the right person to sell to, she turned over the keys to restaurateur Bill Toole.
After nine weeks of owning the bar, Toole and director of operations Janeth Moore are working to convince regulars that their favorite watering hole isn’t going anywhere; it will remain the same old Rusty Spur they’ve always loved.
“This great place, that’s a respite for them, they don’t want to see it destroyed, so we take the time to explain who we are, to talk, to listen, to honor Susan, and to ensure them that nothing is going to change,” Toole says. “But we know that actions speak louder than words and I think each time they visit, we keep that commitment.”
‘This place is full of so much energy’
When the building was constructed in 1921, designed to become Farmers State Bank, a vault was fitted to hold money. Now, it’s full of bottles of alcohol as it was transformed into a walk-in refrigerator. That’s one of Toole’s favorite parts of the bar, he says, along with the historic façade.
Much of the outside of the bar is original and will stay that way, Toole says, dictated by its designation as a historic landmark.
Taking over a business with so much history means there’s a steep learning curve for the new ownership team, Toole says.
“We can learn the operation, but the history and the things you can’t be taught in a manual, that’s what we’ve tried so hard to embrace and learn,” he says. “We are still learning from the team, from the guests, from Susan who is still consulting with us.”
He and Moore focused on learning the history of the building and its many uses over the last 100 years. But they also had to learn recent history that shows up in the bar’s décor. Customers ask about pictures hanging on the walls that feature longtime regulars, previous doormen and other locals who left an impression.
Since the bar
March, Anderson changed hands in has visited once a
week to consult with Moore and answer questions. Customers have their own questions for Moore as well.
“I have regulars that come in every day or four or five times a week. Then there are some that are here every weekend,” she says. “In the beginning, they had 100 questions for me, just who I was, what my intention was, what I have done before.”
Slowly but surely, regulars are starting to trust her, Moore says. Her favorite spot to be is behind the bar, slinging margaritas and talking to guests who visit from near and far.
“This place is full of so much energy
and every day you see different faces from people coming into town. I was absolutely blown away by the amount of people that say ‘every time I’m in Arizona I have to come in,’ from all over the world,” Moore says.
What’s next for the Rusty Spur?
Toole and Moore have heard the message loud and clear from their customers: don’t change anything.
So that’s mostly the plan, both agree. Merchandise including t-shirts and hats will rotate so there’s something new for visitors to buy. And the music is slowly modernizing, at the request of customers.
Rusty Spur hosts 16 live music acts every week, with two acts each day and three on weekends. Historically, bands have played old-school country music and Western classics. But as customers ask for their favorite songs and popular new music, the rotating list of entertainers may shift to include some newer acts, Toole says.
“But no changes to the building or the energy,” Toole specifies.
Regulars will recognize their usual bartenders and staff, as Toole kept 100% of the bar’s previous employees, he says. Toole looks to the staff for guidance on how to keep the bar’s “soul intact.”
In purchasing the Rusty Spur, Toole adds to his growing list of restaurants around Arizona, which all include a piece of history. His bar, Red, White and Brew in Mesa will celebrate 20 years next year. Lakeside Bar and Grill in Peoria is 13 years old and both 32 Shea in Phoenix and Bill’s Grill in Prescott have racked up 10 years in business.
“We are not investors, this is our life, this is what we do. We are going to work with something for a long time,” Toole says. “We felt like it was a wonderful fit, a great brand and we wanted to carry forward the legacy.”