smileys_plan
The exterior of Smiley's Schooner Saloon will change over the next year. A balcony will be added to the second story, and a courtyard and wheelchair-accessible parking will replace the area where the refuse bins are now kept at street level. The interior of the bar will remain mostly the same, with improvements to the floor and wainscoting. The largest change will be the addition of food, allowed for by a renovated kitchen upstairs and ordered from the bar, where minors will now be admitted during the day—the result of a different type of liquor license.   Courtesy of Leila Monroe

Even Smiley’s Schooner Saloon, which touts itself as the longest-running bar west of the Mississippi, must shut its doors once in a while. 

Beginning May 13, Smiley’s, which may date back to 1851, will be out of commission for an estimated four to six weeks; the hotel tucked behind the bar will stay closed through 2019 so the owner, Leila Monroe, can make essential repairs and upgrades to both buildings. 

The biggest change is a…