Johnetta’s Pub returns to Bowling Green

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – After a couple years away, a local hot spot for live music & good times is back open.

Johnetta’s Pub held a soft opening Friday night, with business set to get into full swing next week.

Owner Johnetta Pryor decided to close the business when she decided she just needed a break from it for a while.

Then one of her regulars, Leonard Bailey, came into the picture and wanted to help her reopen the pub.

“We’re not doing this for us. We’re doing it just to bring Johnetta’s Pub back and the atmosphere of the happiness and everything. It was the first pub in Bowling Green that I was allowed to ride my horse in, and we just connected really well,” Bailey says.

As for Johnetta, she’s glad to be able to partner with someone like Leonard, who’s as passionate about the place as she is.

“When I closed the pub, everybody kept saying ‘Do you think you’ll ever open?’ I’m like ‘Yeah, I’m trying to find a building…’ and it went on and on for 2 years and then when we started talking, I was like pop… here we are, we’re back again… I’m happy that he’s here, he’s kind of crazy,” she says.

Johnetta also says they try to create an atmosphere where you can come in and stay for a few hours.

Leonard echoed that by adding even the bar from Cheers can’t touch Johnetta’s.

They’re currently located on Cumberland Trace Road next to El Mazatlan.