For the first time in five years, the Commodore Bar and Restaurant is reopening its doors to the public, starting Thursday night with a soft opening.

"This hasn't changed since the '30s and I'd be surprised if it's changed very much, if at all, if you go forward a number of years. This is irreplaceable," said owner John Rupp. "I'm very excited to reopen. We'll have a full bar menu, but we'll have a snack menu until the final lounge and dining room menu will be introduced in November."

The Commodore has a rich history. Once a hotel, it housed a speakeasy in the basement during Prohibition. Author F. Scott Fitzgerald was among its many notable guests. After Prohibition ended, the bar was built. That history, Rupp said, is what sets the place apart.

"There's a different quality and feeling

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