Spenard's 3300 Road: From Drugs and Spam to Vibrant Music Venue

The storied building has hosted everything from a legendary nightclub to a short-lived Southern restaurant over the decades

Apr. 19, 2026 at 9:55pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a neon Spenard sign repeated in a tight grid pattern, conceptually representing the vibrant cultural history of the 3300 Spenard Road building.The storied 3300 Spenard Road building has hosted a diverse array of Spenard's most iconic businesses and venues over the decades, from a legendary nightclub to a beloved music hall.Anchorage Today

The building at 3300 Spenard Road in Anchorage has a rich and colorful history, serving as the home to a variety of businesses and venues over the past 75 years. From the infamous Fly By Night Club and its sleazy piano player Mr. Whitekeys, to the beloved music venue TapRoot, to more recent short-lived restaurants, this property has seen it all in the ever-evolving Spenard neighborhood.

Why it matters

The 3300 Spenard Road building represents the dynamic history and changing character of the Spenard community, reflecting the neighborhood's evolution from an independent hub to a more gentrified area. The building's ability to host such a diverse array of businesses, from a notorious nightclub to a community-focused music venue, speaks to Spenard's enduring spirit and the resilience of local entrepreneurs.

The details

The building at 3300 Spenard Road has housed a variety of businesses over the decades, including the legendary Fly By Night Club, the TapRoot music venue, the short-lived Southern restaurant Route 33, and most recently the coastal-inspired restaurant Charlou. The property has also seen its fair share of more fleeting tenants, from pop-up restaurants to churches seeking temporary homes. The building's history dates back to the 1950s, when it was home to Hank's Hardware and Spenard Plumbing, two longstanding local businesses.

  • The Fly By Night Club operated at the location from 1984 to 2006.
  • The TapRoot music venue was open from 2010 to 2017.
  • Route 33, a Southern-style restaurant, was open for just a few months in 2017.
  • Charlou, a coastal-inspired restaurant, opened in May 2019 but closed just a month later in June 2019.

The players

Mr. Whitekeys

The self-described "sleazy piano player from Spenard" who operated the legendary Fly By Night Club at the 3300 Spenard Road location from 1984 to 2006.

Rebecca Mohlman

The founding owner of the TapRoot music venue, which was open at the 3300 Spenard Road location from 2010 to 2017.

Martin Severin

The owner who took over the TapRoot from Mohlman in 2015 and operated it until its closure in 2017.

Nikole Moore and Pamela Hatzis

The co-founders of the short-lived Charlou restaurant, which opened and closed at the 3300 Spenard Road location in 2019.

Hans Nowka

One of the owners of the short-lived Route 33 Southern restaurant that operated at the 3300 Spenard Road location in 2017.

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What they’re saying

“If there is one word we stand on, it's community.”

— Rebecca Mohlman, Founding owner of TapRoot

“What separates TapRoot from every other establishment is that they have a business model that centers around 1. providing a venue for Alaskans to play music, and 2. building bridges with high-quality indie musicians willing to come play here. There are no other venues that have music truly at the core of their mission.”

— Laura Oden, Anchorage musician

What’s next

The future of the 3300 Spenard Road building remains uncertain, as the property has seen a rapid turnover of short-lived tenants in recent years. However, the building's rich history and connection to the Spenard community suggest that it will continue to evolve and adapt to meet the changing needs of the neighborhood.

The takeaway

The 3300 Spenard Road building's transformation from a hardware store and plumbing shop to a legendary nightclub, beloved music venue, and revolving door of restaurants reflects the dynamic history and resilience of the Spenard community. Despite the building's checkered past, it remains an iconic part of the neighborhood's identity, serving as a canvas for the area's cultural and entrepreneurial spirit.