Patrons of Pioneer Square’s legendary Central Saloon are reporting that one of the bar’s regulars, a bearded man with flannel tied at his waist, is strongly giving off a distinct “ask me how I knew Kurt Cobain” vibe.
“I just ordered a Stella and he came up to me all like ‘Oh, yeah, that drink was Kurt’s favorite’ and I was like, I don’t know a Kurt,” said Erica Steiner, 23. “He was all ‘Um, Kurt Cobain. Yeah, I knew him.’ I just nodded and backed off slowly toward my friends and fresh Soundgarden burger.”
Andrew Beckner, 29, said he approached the man with concern after seeing him sitting alone staring into space for too long.
“I just asked him if he was okay and he said yes and that I reminded him of a young Kurt the day he came into the bar and asked him ‘How’s it hangin?’” Beckner said. “’He said ‘I guess you could say we were pretty good friends’ and then said ‘that man was like a brother to me.’ All I could think was, cool story, bro, peace—I’m hungry and gotta get back to swallowing my Pearl Jam Seattle Dog.”
Bartender Calvin Petes identified the bar regular as Tommy Snyder and said he’s harmless.
“Ah, yes, Tommy: He likes to tell the twenty-somethings about the good ol’ days when grunge was alive and flannel flowed like wine,” Petes said. “Good days they were. Did I ever tell you about the time Chris Cornell asked me where the bathroom was?”
