The Big-I Pub & Lounge

The feel

The Big I sits in the Garden Island area of downtown Fairbanks, just north of the Cushman and Barnette Street bridges. Emil Pozza built the wood-frame original in 1920 as the International Hotel and Bar, with the bar on the first floor and hotel rooms upstairs.

A fire took it in the 1940s, and Pozza rebuilt in 1950 in concrete block with a basement. The business closed after the 1967 Chena River Flood, and Jack Sexton repaired the building and reopened it in 1971 as the Big International Bar, shortened to Big I. John Jackovich bought it in 2006 and runs it as a pub with regular open mic nights.

What to expect

Setting

A downtown Fairbanks pub and lounge in a concrete-block building in the Garden Island area, just north of the Cushman and Barnette Street bridges.

Hours

Monday to Wednesday 3pm to midnight, Thursday 3pm to 2am, Friday 3pm to 3:30am, Saturday noon to 3:30am, Sunday noon to midnight.

Music and events

Regular open mic nights.

Mingo says

Come Friday or Saturday if you want a late night, since the doors stay open until 3:30am. Saturday opens early, at noon.

Before you go

• Call (907) 456-6437 to ask which night the open mic runs.
• Find the pub in the Garden Island area, just north of the Cushman and Barnette Street bridges.
• Check the hours first, because they change by the day of the week.

Written October 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page.