Seats emblazoned with the Harley-Davidson logo at the newly-renovated HOG Heaven tavern. (Greg Tyler / Stars and Stripes)
SASEBO NAVAL BASE, Japan — It won’t be long before bikers here can park their Harleys outside the Harbor View Club, stroll inside, throw a leg over a studded leather stool and tell the bartender to “fill ’er up.”
However, those who prefer four wheels or sailing the high seas are more than welcome, too, said the Harbor View Club’s manager, Kevin Dugan.
Dugan is responsible for renovating the all-ranks tavern using a Harley-Davidson Motorcycles theme to create HOG Heaven. The hope is that the renovated club will make a cross section of the community happy as pigs in corn beginning with the grand reopening at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
HOG Heaven refers to clubs known as Harley Owners Groups, with members who own the legendary motorcycles — as well as any other meaning one might attach.
“That’s one of the things I like about the name. It can have more than one meaning when people hear the term HOG Heaven,” Dugan said.
The tables now have stools covered like leather motorcycle seats, bar stools with Harley- Davidson logos, an old-fashioned gas pump behind the bar and cabinets and drawers made to look metallic, like the inside of a garage.
Before the renovations, the tavern was a basic, bland, dark bar serving alcoholic beverages and featuring karaoke. Dugan didn’t like it.
“We wanted this place to be more like Chili’s and T.G.I. Friday’s in the United States. Now, those guys have nailed a concept,” he said. “We wanted to create an environment where people can come and entertain themselves by socializing, enjoying good food and alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages.”
Dugan said the management did not want the tavern to become another “dingy, smoky place with shady characters in the corner” who come to get wasted.
“It’s not about the alcohol, but the atmosphere, in which anybody would like to come in, have some good food and conversation,” he added.
The Harbor View Club has created a special menu for HOG Heaven: Every item can be eaten without using utensils, including various burgers and sandwiches, fries, chicken strips and shrimp.
Between now and Friday, patrons have an opportunity to vote to keep or reject karaoke. Dugan wants to see it go.
“We want this place to be as American as we can make it,” he said. “That’s what we’re aiming for. Karaoke is right outside the front gate.”
Call DSN 252-3965 for more information about HOG Heaven.
Seats emblazoned with the Harley-Davidson logo at the newly-renovated HOG Heaven tavern. (Greg Tyler / Stars and Stripes)
Kevin Dugan, manager of Sasebo Naval Base’s Harbor View Club, checks on the equipment behind the bar Thursday at the newly renovated all-ranks club HOG Heaven, set for a grand opening Wednesday at 5 p.m. (Greg Tyler / Stars and Stripes)
