The Marlin

History

The Marlin, a divey Fairbanks music bar, is generally dated by locals to about 1975. Patrick Kezer, who owned it from 1999 to 2001, has said the building began as a television-repair shop and became The Blue Marlin around then, later a noted performance room for bands, open mics, and karaoke. Dollar bills papered the walls and ceiling for years. Rick Mensik, owner for nearly 20 years, closed it in May 2020 when pandemic occupancy rules made the room unworkable; it later reopened with weekly live music.