Murphy's Pub & Grill

Originally located at 515 Mt Rushmore Road, the pub became a landmark watering hole for Rapid City residents since the repeal of prohibition in 1933. It was much smaller than the current location and had only 14 stools, six booths and the bar. It was named after Ed Murphy, the bar’s owner and it was “the place where every doctor, lawyer, teacher and ball player frequented,” according to Jack Welch, one of the original bartenders who served up 30¢ beers for 33 years at Murphy’s. According to a Rapid City Journal article from 1984, the bar’s former owner, Littleman Carlson, stated “everyone knew everyone, and they greeted everyone. It was a neighborhood bar for the whole town, and for sporting fans.” It had two claims to fame: it was the only bar in Rapid to open at 7:00 a.m., which kept the place packed with night-shifters looking to blow off a little steam after work, and second, there was a window in the bar that opened to Rueben’s Barber Shop, allowing the barber to shout “next” when he was ready for another customer.