OLYMPIA, Wash. — Walking into Frankie's Sports Pub, there's a different feeling inside the smoke-filled club, as members mourn the loss of Frankie Schnarrs.
"You don't replace men like him, people like that. It's a tremendous loss,” said Greg Travis.
Schnarrs’ died Friday at the age of 68.
"Like a father figure, like a dad. He had the biggest heart ever and put you in your place if you weren't doing something right,” said Jennifer Travis.
Greg and Jennifer said tenacity was one of Schnarrs’ strongest traits.
He opened his Olympia bar in 1995. Ten years later, his fight with the state started over the smoking ban and escalated when Washington legalized marijuana in 2011.
"Frank stood for that simple, these are your rights and don't forget because if you forget your rights, then they slowly get taken,” said Greg.
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State liquor control officers stripped Schnarrs of his license in November. He closed the restaurant and bar downstairs, but kept his club upstairs open.
“He said, 'I won't fight you anymore, fine, but a private club up here is a private club, it's a members-only club,'” said Jennifer.
Club members believe they're within their rights to keep the club open, but the state said they're breaking the law.
"Frankie has always contended that it's a private club and they have the ability to do essentially what they want in that club,” said Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board Communications Director Brian Smith. "They are not in their rights, it's illegal to be operating in there."
Schnarrs’ friends said he can't be replaced and they plan to do everything in their power to make sure his club won't be either.
“They didn't make too many of him on this planet and he will be sorely missed. His memory and his legacy will continue,” said Greg.
Funeral arrangements haven’t been set. Currently, Schnarrs’ cause of death isn’t being released.
Cox Media Group
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