Inside the Bar Wench in North Bend, owner and bartender, Jessica Sullivan, behind the bar on the phone, serves cocktails, wine and imported beers, as well as lunch and dinner. World Photo by Madeline Steege

NORTH BEND - Don't let the name fool you. There are no wanton women at the Bar Wench - only a local pub that boasts, among other things, a serene atmosphere.

"This is a drama free environment," says a sign over the bar, and the owner, Jessica Sullivan, 37, of Coos Bay, said she intends to keep it that way.

"I'd like a place where people from the neighborhood could come for a variety of reasons: not have drama," Sullivan said softly, leaning forward on the long smooth black surface of the bar - the walls behind her a rich rust color.

With the flick of a switch, Sullivan turned on projectors that made psychedelic patterns flowing in different shapes and colors on big screens across from the bar. Below them are a row of tables with comfortable-looking chairs. Just one customer hung out at the bar this Saturday afternoon, sipping his beer, and bobbing his head to "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond.

"Good music," he said.

Later, others came in to eat.

Sullivan opened the Bar Wench in early October, fully aware that the space has been known for trouble.

"The previous business had its liquor license revoked," she said. "That kind of flagged this area as a problem spot."

Sullivan said, because of that, she has restrictions on her license. She is not allowed to have a dance club, but she said she didn’t want one anyway.

Between the bar, the kitchen, a room next door and a basement, Sullivan has leased about 4,000 square feet. As business increases, she plans on opening the adjacent room for playing pool, and eventually the basement, most likely for special events.

"I've been able to see - even if it's just a little bit - an increase (in business) every week," Sullivan said.

Sullivan said she has a selection of music she chooses from, in a variety of tempos to either suit the customers’ moods, or alter them, if needed.

"We play classic rock from the 1960s through the '90s," Sullivan said. "Everything from Sonny & Cher to Rob Zombie."

The Bar Wench features a menu that's "designed to be pretty simple with a fair amount of diversity," Sullivan said. Customers can choose from burgers, hot dogs, soups, appetizers, sandwiches, desserts and main dishes - including meat loaf, lasagna and corned beef. The Reuben sandwich is her specialty. Sullivan hopes as the bar gets busier, she can hire a cook.

"One of the things I'd like to do here is be an employer and add to the growth of the economy," she said.

She is proud of her selection of European beers and ever-growing list of wines, such as a German holiday wine, Gluhwein.

"I take requests and have added almost a dozen different items that people have requested," she said.

Although she feared there might be adverse reactions to the bar's name, Sullivan decided to go with it anyway, and told the story of how it came to be.

"I used to work in a German tavern in L.A. and I had a traditional dress," Sullivan said. "I started my own catering business and wore medieval costumes. I called myself the Bar Wench."

Sullivan, who has lived in Coos Bay for four years, and has worked in the bar industry for about 15 years, said she didn't know how the people of Coos County would take the name.

"For the most part, people love it," she said, adding that one man had said his wife wouldn't go there because of the name.

But that isn't the norm, she said.

"One comment I like to hear is men who have been saying 'I'm going to bring my wife,'" she said. "I want people to feel comfortable to bring a date."

Sullivan chose the North Bend downtown area, 645 Virginia Ave., because it's a good location for bar hopping - between the Bar Wench, Rogers Zoo, the Humboldt Club and Tiny's Tavern - or just stopping after work for a quick drink.

Smoking is allowed and the bar is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. for last call.

"People go out to have fun and it's my job and my goal to make sure that they find it here," she said.

"This is my baby," she said, quietly. "It's turning into exactly what I wanted and more."