The Wooly offers 'excellent' selection of bourbon, scotch and whiskey

Mar. 30—Editor's note: This story and accompanying photo are advertorial content in the 2024 "Community Cheerleaders" special section of The Jamestown Sun. The special section features volunteers in the community.

JAMESTOWN — The newest bar in downtown Jamestown offers an "excellent" selection of bourbon, scotch and whiskey along with live music and electronic gaming, according to Dave Witzig, partner and general manager.

The Wooly also has all the seltzers and Twisted Teas along with 12 beers on tap.

"My pride is the scotch and bourbon selection," Witzig said.

The Wooly, which is located at 107 1st Ave. S, opened its doors on Friday, March 1. Witzig said the building that the business is in was built around 1904.

The Wooly has a full bar that can seat about 30 patrons with additional tables for another 60, a dance floor, eight TVs and 10 electronic pull-tab machines along with one paper pull-tab machine. The bar has an occupancy of 220 people.

"We're a nice place to come and relax for a good happy hour," Witzig said.

At night, Witzig said The Wooly will be "music forward." He said The Wooly will have a variety of music.

"There will be an open mic, there will be comedians and there will be live music," he said.

Witzig added that The Wooly probably will have karaoke in the future. On nights when there is no live entertainment, he said there will be a DJ.

Witzig said the business' name comes from the history of the building when it was formerly owned by F.W. Woolworth Co. from the late 1920s to the late 1950s. He said the Ws that are on the entryway are from Woolworth.

"I made sure we kept those," he said. "It (the business) had to start with a W, so The Wooly is what we came up with."

While exploring his options, he said he found out that Matt McPherson, a co-owner of The Wooly, owned the building where the bar is currently located.

"We started talking about it and that there is a market for another pub downtown," he said.

McPherson and Witzig agreed that a bar would be a good business so they began renovating the 3,750 square feet in the building.

"The renovation was drastic," Witzig said. "It turned out awesome."

The original ceiling that was over 100 years old was maintained. The walls were stripped down to the original bricks which were cleaned and sealed.

"That makes it really look nice," Witzig said. "A big thing for me was keeping the brick."

New plumbing was done by Jamestown, Plumbing, Heating & AC; heating and air conditioning by Arctic Refrigeration and electrical work by Advantage Electric. It also has a new floor.

Roughrider Signs & Designs made the outdoor signage. The business also has a Wooly sculpture inside that was done by the Bohl Iron Works.

"This is the most photographed mammoth in North Dakota," Witzig said. "It's a great selfie spot."

The Wooly is open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.