Vince’s Other Place Is What Neighborhood Bars SHOULD All Be Like!

Written By: The Gnarly Gnome
Photography By: The Gnarly Gnome

9/4/25

When I put my pen to the sheet of paper to begin this blog post, I only made it around 15 words into the process before my scent memory takes over. Popcorn. The warm, buttery smell of popcorn fills my nostrils as I think about many, many fantastic nights sitting at the bar in Vince’s Other Place. The popcorn machine sits right inside the front door of the bar, so you don’t have to venture far into its warmly lit confines before it makes its presence known. It locks the memory into your subconscious, which is why this post is so easy for me to write

A Very Brief History of Vinces

There’s not a lot of stuff that I’ve been able to dig up about the origins of Vince’s… but from all the best that I can figure out, it’s got a story that you’ll remember.

It started back in 1969 when owner/founder Vince Valentino opened up his first place, which, from what I can tell, was called ‘Vince’s Chili Kitchen’ and was located in Elmwood Place on Vine Street. This original location caught on fire and burnt to the ground, but Vince persevered and opened up a new location… ‘Vince’s Other Place’ in 1979.

The building that houses this “new” location is one of the oldest in its Mt. Healthy neighborhood, originally constructed in 1905 to serve as the Independent German Benevolent Association Hall. It spent the following decades as Vince’s, becoming a neighborhood staple, with its walls gradually filling with sports memorabilia and beer advertising — history that carries a soul you can’t artificially create (despite how many fake dive bars attempt to).

In 2011, Vince sadly passed away, with his wife Betty carrying on his legacy with the bar (with the help of other family members who help her run things day to day).

What To Expect At Vince’s

You’re not going to get a bowl of chili at this Vince’s. A bowl of popcorn, a bag of chips… that’ll have to hold you over. Vince’s is for socializing over a cold drink, some pool or darts, and probably a local sports team on television.

While I think you’ll find most of the crowd sipping on macro beers, if you pay a little closer attention, you’ll find a few craft options that not a soul in the place will judge you for ordering. That’s because Vince’s is more than just a bar… It’s a communal spot, a piece of the very fabric of Mt. Healthy.

I’ve never met a rude bartender; I’ve had great conversations with other drinkers bellied up. I’ve celebrated the birthdays of strangers, shared in the sadness of loved ones lost, all at Vince’s…. because that’s what it’s for.

Why You Need To Visit

There are a lot of bars that I enjoy. There are plenty of places that I’ll recommend when people ask me where they should go to grab a drink, but when I think of some of the places that I actually find myself going to on a regular basis, Vince’s is right near the top of that list.

It fits into what you are looking for – no matter what that is. That’s not always easy for a bar to do. There are some places that have a certain vibe one night, only to feel like something completely different another. I don’t know exactly how they do it, but Vince’s manages to change for every person around the room. It has the ability to twist into what each person needs it to be, all at the exact same moment.

It’s a thing of beauty.

Also, there are pictures of naked people in the bathroom, and that’s pretty fun.