The bar was first opened in 1956 by owner Bill Thompson, aka Chukker Bill. It was inspired by his favorite bar in San Francisco ... also named the Chukker. At different times in its four decades, the Tuscaloosa version was a restaurant, a biker bar and a rock-n-roll dive. In its final days, it stayed true to each of those qualities. The party ended with a Halloween blowout in 2003. This final bit of graffitt was scrawled near the bar area. This version of the Chukker is slated for demolition to clear way for a proposed seven block federal courthouse complex.