Beloved Puyallup bar to close on St. Patrick’s Day, citing DUI prevention
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Bumpy’s will close March 17–18, citing safety and Liquor Board concerns.
- New owner cites Liquor Board oversight and local DUI figures as reasons.
- Bar will upgrade areas, offer $5 Tullamore Dew shots, reopen March 19.
A beloved Puyallup bar will be shutting its doors on St. Patrick’s Day — and they say it’s to save lives.
According to a Facebook post from Bumpy’s, the bar at 116 E. Main Ave. will be closed on March 17 and 18, reopening its doors on March 19.
This news comes six months after the bar welcomed its new owner, Brooklyn Smith, who took over the Puyallup institution from Brian and Heather Gelston, who owned the bar for 21 years.
“As we continue through our first year in business, we’re making a conscious effort to be extremely careful and thoughtful about how we operate,” the post said. “In recent years we’ve seen an increased presence from the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board in Puyallup, and as new operators we want to make sure we’re doing everything by the book and building our business the right way from the start.”
In its Facebook post, Bumpy’s said they don’t consider the increased oversight from the state’s liquor and cannabis board to be “a bad thing.”
“Through conversations with the Liquor Board, we’ve learned that Puyallup consistently produces some of the highest DUI numbers in the state. Because of that, they’re focusing on working with local bars and restaurants to help address the issue from the ground up,” the post said. “That means establishments like ours are expected to take an active role in monitoring service, pacing drinks, and helping ensure guests leave safely.”
According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, 16 drivers were involved in fatal crashes in Puyallup from 2016 to 2024. The website does not include data for drunk driving incidents that didn’t end in fatalities.
“We take that responsibility seriously,” the post said. “As a new business, we want to make sure that we are aligned with those expectations and operating in a way that protects our patrons, our community and our business itself.”
Bumpy’s staff will use the holiday closure to make improvements to areas behind the bar and on the patio, the post said, and will offer $5 shots of Tullamore Dew for the rest of the month as a way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
“While we love a good celebration, this year we’re choosing to sit St. Patrick’s Day out as we continue learning, growing, and building Bumpy’s the right way,” the post said.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said drunk driving incidents often skyrocket on St. Patrick’s Day. In a 2022 post on its website, it said that between 2016 and 2020, 287 people died in drunk-driving crashes during the St. Patrick’s Day period from 6 p.m. on March 16 to 5:59 a.m. on March 18.
During the 2020 St. Patrick’s Day period, 36% of fatal crashes involved a drunk driver, the NHTSA said.
Preventing deaths on St. Patrick’s Day
According to a post on NHTSA’s website, residents can take the following steps to prevent drunk driving:
- Plan a safe ride home before going to a bar or party, or choosing a designated driver.
- Refuse to let any drunk person behind the wheel of a car.
- If you’re hosting a party, make sure all guests leave with a sober driver.
- Wear your seat belt in the car. NHTSA calls seat belts “your best defense against impaired drivers.”
“If you drink, do not drive for any reason,” the post said. “Call a taxi, a ride-hailing service, or a sober friend.”
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article included information about $15 off Lyft rides for St. Patrick’s Day. That information has been removed because it applies to Lyft rides in Washington, D.C, not Washington state.
This story was originally published March 17, 2026 at 5:15 AM.
