Fort Noks now open, Dempsey's in the works

After 4½ years, Rick Engen has finally struck gold.

And the downtown Fargo business owner is ready to share his good fortune.

Engen's Fort Noks - the "Bar of Gold" - opened earlier this week on the main floor of the old Fargo National Bank at 52 Broadway.

The smoke-free elevated bar with an outdoor patio offers a light environment of small tables, dark stools and decorative overhead lighting.

A depiction of a vault on the bar's west wall is a reminder of the building's heritage, while windows lining the south wall create a view of the city.

"There is not a seat where you can't look out onto Broadway and NP Avenue," Engen said.

Engen, who has owned the building since 1995, said he opened the bar to give the public the opportunity to enjoy the historic site and downtown Fargo.

The bar's name and smoke-free environment pay tribute to the bank built in 1911.

The historical value of Fort Knox and the former Fargo bank - as well as the connection of protecting valuables - worked together to create the bar's name, Engen said.

The smoke-free environment is to preserve the building's structure, he added.

The bar's product lines include top-shelf and common brands, manager Nels Odney said. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres and snacks are also served.

Engen would like to see the walls of his bar decorated with images of Fargo's history.

"It's a pretty simple, inviting environment," Engen said of his bar. The process to start his bar, however, was anything but simple.

Engen waited four years before the city agreed earlier this year to create more liquor license opportunities for new bar owners.

Until then, Fargo's unrestricted liquor licenses were limited to Class A and Class AB, which had long been spoken for.

The four new Class Z licenses were created with the stipulation that two must be used downtown and the other two used elsewhere in the city.

Engen was the first to receive approval for a Class Z license.

Up the street at 206 Broadway, Ron Iverson and Bert Meyers hope to receive the second downtown Class Z liquor license.

Fargo's Liquor Control Committee granted approval Tuesday to the cousins' plan to open a traditional Irish pub, Dempsey's Public House, in January.

Dempsey's will offer an Irish flair downtown with Irish bands and beers, as well as celebrations of World Cup games and St. Patrick's Day, Iverson said.

The bar was named after the cousins' great-grandparents. "Public House" is the Irish wording for bar, he explained.

Dempsey's will have a Victorian feel with dark woods, greens and blacks. Food will be provided by Bertrosa's and Monte's.

If the City Commission approves Dempsey's request next month, two Class Z liquor licenses will remain available. Both would need to locate outside of downtown.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Teri Finneman at (701) 241-5560