Club Scene : Locals Call The Jungle a Haven

Nestled in a Granada Hills shopping center next to Ralphs grocery store is The Jungle, a neighborhood bar that features live rock and blues beginning at 8:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Regulars say you can stop in, grab a beer, talk to friends, play a little pool, then conveniently walk home.

THE SCENE: On this Tuesday night, every seat at the bar is taken by 9:30, and college kids begin to fill the tables near the stage to hear Cactus Groove, a local band that plays on the last Tuesday of every month. Two pool tables see constant action all night, as does the foosball game next to the DJ booth. Two pinball machines sit by the entrance and the medium-size dance floor receives little attention from the college crowd, who are content to just sit with friends and simply bob their heads to the music.

THE CROWD: The regulars are strictly blue-collar, mostly construction workers and truck drivers in their late 20s and early 30s, who hit the bar to relax before heading home. Newcomers are spotted easily yet welcomed with friendly conversation. Anything goes for the dress code. The older regulars have that “I just got off work and I need a drink” look of tank tops with sunburned shoulders, T-shirts and jeans. The younger crowd has the casual, “I just came from a midterm” ensemble of jeans, big shirts and comfortable shoes. By 1:30 a.m. the crowd starts to thin.

THE MUSIC: Live bands provide rock Tuesdays through Saturdays and blues on Mondays.

THE GOOD: “Proximity,” said Dina Manios of Northridge. “It’s right in the neighborhood. The bartenders are friendly, the drinks are inexpensive, and I know if it’s a Friday and there’s nothing to do, I can come here alone and have a good time.”

THE BAD: “It needs a larger women’s bathroom,” says Nichele Schroeder of Granada Hills.

“It could stay open longer,” adds Wayne Catting in town from Ontario, Canada. “And it could use more Canadian beer.”

The Jungle, 17044 Chatsworth St., Granada Hills, is open from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. Cover charge ranges from $2 to $3 depending on the band. Call (818) 832-4978.