ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
The Flightpath District in Betoota is known for its light industry and local charm. However, the winds of change are blowing through the neighbourhood, as a new wave of skaters in Carhartt jackets have discovered the beloved watering hole, The Black Box.
Once a haven for aviation workers and long-time locals, The Black Box is now seeing an influx of young skaters who are more interested in the aesthetic of a dive bar than its traditional clientele.
Jake “J-Dog” Williams, a 24-year-old skater who has gone to great lengths to hide the fact his father is an orthopaedic specialist at Royal Betoota Base Hospital, is one of the new regulars.
“I love the vibe here,” he told The Advocate yesterday afternoon in the Black Box’s front bar.
“Seven-dollar Resch’s and an old-school feel that you just can’t find in the city. Plus, the locals have some wild stories. It’s a cool place to hang out. I love the fact it doesn’t have a kitchen but you’re allowed to bring outside food in. So cool.”
The publican, Donald O’Neill, is optimistic about the changing crowd.
“This is what we’ve been waiting for,” he said, ashing a cigarette on a bar mat and rubbing it in with his hand.
“These little c**ts will pay $10 for a schooner of Powers, easy. I can get Resch’s up from New South and charge them $12, the silly c**ts. I can finally afford to put a kitchen in and hopefully get a new crowd in. These sad cases that come in here, Christ on a bike! You’d think they work in the Temu factory the way they carry on. Mate, you throw bags on to a plane and throw them off. It’s not hard. These little [homophobic slur redacted by editorial] can ride their [homophobic slur redacted by editorial] skateboards here any time they want, I will serve them.”
However, not all locals are thrilled about the new patrons.
Clem Patterson, a retired oval curator and lifelong resident of the Flightpath District, is worried about the impact on his favourite and closest pub.
“I’ve been drinking at The Black Box since it was called the Royal Commercial Railway Hotel,” he said before spitting between his legs and onto the sports bar carpet.
“Now we’ve got these [homophobic slur redacted by editorial] in bomber jackets taking over, and I’m worried they’re going to drive up the prices and push out good honest piss like Powers and XXXX [coughs obnoxiously and spits again on the carpet again] I don’t want to pay $12 for some fancy craft beer that will make me shit bore water for two weeks.”
The tension between the old guard and the new wave is palpable, but Donald is hopeful that The Black Box can maintain its unique character.
“We might have to bite the bullet and ask the smokers to do it outside. Vaping inside is OK, I guess. It doesn’t pong but it’s pretty antisocial to just have a big honk on the devil’s dick and blow the digital smog all over every cunt but if these [homophobic slur redacted by editorial] want to do it then I don’t care. We know they’ve got the money.”
More to come.
