The Oldest Operating Business In Arizona Is A Mouth-Watering Historic Restaurant

The oldest operating business in Arizona has nothing to do with the world's oldest profession. At least, not anymore. Still, a century and a half after opening in 1877, The Palace Restaurant and Saloon is still going strong. The centerpiece of Whiskey Row — a historic district in Prescott, Arizona — The Palace is an easy day trip from Phoenix, Arizona. As its name suggests, Whiskey Row was a saloon-lined thoroughfare, with The Palace being one of about 40 establishments in the strip's heyday. Wyatt Earp – the legendary lawman, gambler, and outlaw, depending on who you ask — was a frequent patron, along with his brother, Virgil, and his longtime friend, Doc Holliday.

While the structure that presides over Whiskey Row today is more than 100 years old, it's not the original Palace. That building burned to the ground during the Whiskey Row Fire in 1900. But all was not lost. Loyal patrons banded together during the blaze to save an important artifact from the establishment — a circa 1880s Brunswick Bar, which is an ornately carved back bar with features like Corinthian columns and wide arches.

While the fire destroyed an entire block, it didn't dampen the spirits of Whiskey Row business owners, some of whom joined forces to mitigate their loss and rebuild in partnership with former competitors. Such was the case at The Palace. According to the Historical Marker Database, then-owner Robert Brow teamed up with the owners of the Cabinet Saloon to open "the finest and best club house, saloon, cafe, etc. that Arizona has ever had, or in fact that can be found west of the Mississippi River."

Robert Brow and his partners succeeded beyond expectations. More than a century later, The Palace Restaurant and Saloon is still going strong. When the new Palace Hotel (as it was known then) opened in 1901, the Prescott Journal Miner declared the dining and lodging establishment "without doubt the most elegant in this part of the country." The New-Classical Revival-style building featured opulent furnishings and, true to its heritage as a gambling destination, three gaming rooms. The original Brunswick Bar? Returned to its place of honor front and center in the saloon where it still stands today.

Through decades, The Palace has survived challenges that doomed other hospitality-related businesses. In 1907, just six years after reopening in a newly built structure, the state of Arizona declared gambling in all its forms, from wagering to games of chance, illegal. We're not sure how, but The Palace prevailed. Not even Prohibition could sound the death knell for the long-time establishment. It kept on chugging for decades, right up through the 1990s — earning it a place among America's oldest bars – before signs of age took a toll.

That's when Dave and Marilyn Michelson entered the picture. The California couple recognized the diamond in the rough The Palace had become and set their sights on restoring the landmark to its former grandeur. They researched local archives for photos and news articles to ensure the restoration was as authentic as possible. They also added a comfort food-centric menu and planned special events, including dinner-theater performances and election night parties, a nod to the venue's century-old reputation as where local politicians courted constituents.

Fast-forward a couple of decades, and The Palace Restaurant and Saloon changed hands yet again. In 2018, after 22 years at the helm, Michelson sold the business to Derry and Dennis McCormick. The couple partnered with then-manager Scott Stanford and bartender Martha Mekeel in a bid to continue the legacy of the iconic watering hole. Driven by a mission to maintain authenticity, the new owners did little more than spruce up the front of the house and update back-of-the-house operations. The extensive menu gets rave reviews, and servers dressed in period clothing set the Old West tone in a friendly, but not kitschy, way. It's par for the course in a 21st-century town that celebrates its 18th-century cowboy roots at every twist and turn.

While you're in the area, be sure to take a stroll along Whiskey Row. In addition to the saloons that inspired the historic district's name, you'll find galleries, gift shops, and antique emporiums. If you're looking to dig deeper into Prescott's history, head to the Sharlot Hall Museum, where former Palace owner Dave Michelson did much of the research that shaped the 1996 restoration of the landmark establishment. Or embark on a curated adventure with the Heritage Trail and History Hunt.

Spidey sense tingling? Grab your EMF meter. We can't say for sure, but rumor has it Prescott — and specifically The Palace Restaurant and Saloon — may be harboring a spirit or two of the paranormal kind. According to legend, in 1903, local funeral director Frank Nevin played a bad hand and lost his business to the town sheriff at the establishment. The funeral parlor is still in business today, just a short walk from the Palace Restaurant and Saloon.