Many of us have a favorite neighborhood bar we frequent often and where “everybody knows your name.” But do they all get to celebrate 80 years? "The Hot Dog Diaries" by Al Bonner and Jim Antonini is dedicated specifically to “everyone who has stepped through the front door of Gene’s Beer Garden” in Morgantown, West Virginia, over the past 80 years but will also be enjoyed by anyone anywhere who has spent time in a similar place in their own neighborhood.

Gene’s Place was originally opened in 1944 by the Perilli Family in the Greenmont neighborhood of Morgantown (home to West Virginia University) and on Feb. 1, 1985, ownership passed to Al Bonner who has owned it ever since. As Al tells it, “It was cold. It was snowing. It was a lonely place as I sat there with only two customers chatting back and forth. One said, ‘You picked a great day to buy a bar, Al!’ But shortly thereafter the front door opened and in walked Frank.”

Frank Perilli, who owned the bar up to that point, proceeded to talk to 28-year-old new owner Al for about an hour sharing his 41 years of knowledge about how to run the bar. “He genuinely wanted me to succeed, and he took it upon himself to give me every opportunity to do so.” And 39 years later, Al is still succeeding!

For the entire 80 years that Gene’s has been in existence, it has served as “a gathering place for the neighborhood and Morgantown community.” In its early days, it would open early in the morning to serve the coal miners after they got off their overnight shifts. During the time that the Perilli family owned the bar, there was a barber shop in the back where author Jim Antonini even got his hair cut as a boy (and it more recently reopened as “Gene’s Hair Garden”) and a bocce ball court. Later, pinball machines, a jukebox, pool tables, dart boards, poker machines, and large screen TVs were added.

Gene’s has also always been a place to get some great food, including the world-famous Gene’s hot dog — the most popular food item at the bar; Gene’s Pepperoni Roll — the second most popular food item at the bar; the all-mighty Gene’s Supreme — the most infamous food item at the bar; and Gene’s Cheese Plate — the most ridiculed food item at the bar.

“But Gene’s Beer Garden is more than a place to get something to eat, have a beer, or watch a ball game. It’s a place to gather with friends — to see a familiar face, to share a laugh, to be included … there is no other bar like Gene’s. It’s a family.”

I loved reading the wild and funny stories about things that have happened in the bar over the years, and meeting such memorable “characters” as long-time bartender, Peanut…”Hey, Al, how many times have you fired Peanut?” “At least ten times, probably more.”

One of the most touching stories in the book is about Adrian Rawle, a young homeless man in the neighborhood who was undergoing treatment for a variety of mental illnesses he was struggling to control. Al regularly helped Adrian out, feeding him hot dogs and pepperoni rolls, loading up the jukebox with credits so he could play his favorite song over and over again, letting him sleep in an upstairs hallway above the bar on cold nights, and even occasionally buying him new pants when his old ones were too worn out.

One Father’s Day Adrian, despite his mental state, presented Al with a small gift and Father’s Day card as a thank you for his kindness. “For Adrian and so many others through the years, Gene’s has been a lighthouse that has provided warmth and friendship.”

"The Hot Dog Diaries" is truly a love letter to this wonderful place and the stories and photos shared in the book give it such flavor. Happy Anniversary, Gene’s Beer Garden! Here’s to another eighty years!