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For all the talk about change we have heard this year, the most tangible example to date comes from one of the least expected places. Yes, our old standby, The Annex, has caught the change bug, and it looks to be for the better. It even has its own Facebook page now, with the latest specials posted.

For those who were not familiar with it before, let me explain how The Annex secured such a special place in our hearts. Founded in 1952, and adorned with an array of local sports memorabilia, the walls of The Annex dripped nostalgia (in some cases, literally). Understood protocols covering everything from when to play the jukebox to how to get on the shuffleboard table had a way of providing new patrons an immediate sense of respect and belonging for the place. Oh yes, and they serve beers the size of your head. If you have yet to infer, many of my post-adolescent formative years have been spent in this spot.

Short of a full-scale remodel, I would say that The Annex has gone through more of a 21st century refresh. Layers and years worth of dust have been cleaned off (yes, I will miss that dust), the aged paneling on the walls has been swapped out for fresh paint, and there are twice as many televisions as there used to be. The old disc-slinging jukebox was finally retired in favor of an internet-connected melody machine that can play damn near every song ever recorded, and Buzztime Trivia and Golden Tee Golf provide additional competitive outlets, sort of a prelude to the main course: new light fixtures illuminate the shuffleboard table, which is the crown jewel of the bar and one of the best tables in all of Long Beach.

But the biggest updates come on the service side, where The Annex has upgraded its beer selection to provide 12 draft beers hovering just above freezing as they flow through the new Glacier system. I am happy to report that Pabst Blue Ribbon, America’s Best Beer in 1893, is still flowing cold and strong in The Annex. The expanded selection of beers are still served up in frosty 34 ounce schooners, although the old energy-hogging, free-standing freezer has been replaced by an industrial stainless steel wall freezer, leaving a more open feel at the end of the bar.

While there may be more open space now, prepare for your stomach to be stuffed full. Yes, here comes the big shakeup. The Annex now serves food! No longer just a haven for hot nuts and pickled eggs, you can now saddle up and enjoy a hot Roast Beef sandwich piled high and slathered with au jus and your preferred amount of horseradish. I went for eye-watering sinus-clearing hot, and it was delicious. The other new item on order is the good old fashioned hot dog, while reliable options such as pickled eggs and various bar snacks are still available.

The old Annex was a totally unique place, and the changes have served for the most part to clean or update the things that were starting to get a little rough. The overall environment remains intact; it’s always been and continues to be the kind of place where good music or an exciting ballgame enhances your conversation rather than distracting from it. Bring some cash, or hit the ATM inside, come watch some football or playoff baseball, and enjoy The Annex again for the very first time.

The Annex
4300 Stearns St. (corner of Stearns & Lakewood, North of Traffi...
(562) 597-0560
9AM-2AM