Vintage Tee "Hobbit - Ft. Lauderdale"

It was a bar in Fort Lauderdale from 1978 until.... 1993 at least, it looks like?

This March 5, 1993 article appear to be no longer online but the web archive to the rescue

In existence since January 1978, The Hobbit, 1508 NE Fourth Ave., Fort Lauderdale, proves that a local lounge can have longevity.

Besides having four pool tables, pinball, video games and country music playing on the juke box, the saloon has a 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily happy hour, with draft beer priced at 75 cents and domestic beer $1. From 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays, there usually is a free barbecue. Throughout the years, The Hobbit has sold more than 5,000 T-shirts with its motto -- Keep on Tolkien -- printed on them.

https://web.archive.org/web/2021062903 ... -05-9301130419-story.html

That is very interesting! I grew up in Fort Lauderdale but, sadly, was a child before it apparently closed. It was located in the Wilton Manors neighborhood, and the space still serves as a bar, just appealing to a different clientele.

Ooh, awesome, thanks for that find!

Throughout the years, The Hobbit has sold more than 5,000 T-shirts with its motto -- Keep on Tolkien -- printed on them.

Quite the success, that tee

And I can now tell you that

Lauderdale Hobbit, Inc

was

Established: Feb 18, 1983. The entity operated for 11 years and 6 months, but it is no longer active

And if the address is anything to go by it is the Ramrod Leather Bar today, the "longest running Gay Bar in the state of Florida with the same owners."

As it started in 1994 I'd say there was a change of... owners.

And if we wanted to know more about the "Hobbit" we can simply write them!

Olwe wrote:

Quite the success, that tee

I wonder if Tim Kirk got royalties for his art on them... ?