It is the oldest bar in town still under the same family ownership — the Thomsens, Bruce and Cynthia. In Saranac Lake, which once had dozens of bars downtown, that’s quite the achievement, Cynthia said.

Bruce purchased the bar with a couple of friends in 1975. Cynthia joined in 1979 and became a partner in 1981.

Bruce had wanted to own a bar ever since he was 16 years old. His family was always involved in restaurants.

“It was more or less in my blood,” he said.

The Rusty Nail on Broadway. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

The Nail is a favorite spot for lifelong locals, college students hitting the town, tourists looking for atmosphere and traveling construction workers looking for conversation on the road.

Lining the faces of nearly every wall — even in the bathrooms — are photos of patrons from throughout the years — celebrating, hanging out, killing time, meeting up, goofing off and making music. They’re filled with costumes, funny faces, dogs and smiles.

“People want to see themselves,” Bruce said of the photos.

The photos also serve as mementos to the Nail regulars who have died over the years, holding their image in a place they loved.

This atmosphere took a bit of work to create. When Bruce bought the business, then called E. John’s Lounge, he said it was known as the worst bar in town. It had a bad reputation for fights. Now, Bruce said he’s got a “very mellow” place. The bad reputation stuck around for a while and he still feels he’s trying to shake it.

Cynthia said they’ve worked to make the place welcoming, like a home for regulars and visitors alike. She said they follow the golden rule of treating others like they want to be treated. She also said it’s because of their “outstanding” team of bartenders.

The family atmosphere of the place is solidified by the Nail’s cookouts and free holiday dinners. Bruce said this was something his family always did in their restaurants.

“There’s a lot of people out there who don’t have any place to go or food to eat, so I try to help them out,” Bruce said.

In 50 years, Cynthia said they’ve never missed a major holiday.

“They always know where they can get a hot meal and never be alone on a holiday,” she said. “We’ve given up many holidays for this. We’re proud of it.”

During Winter Carnival, the bar hosts benefit concerts where they match what is raised with donations for local organizations.

Every Tuesday, at 9 p.m., musicians gather at the Nail for the longest-running open mic in Saranac Lake. Local musician Liz Whipps started it 25 years ago and it is now run by Mark Palyswiat. Several musicians have written songs about the bar and performed them at the Nail. Local band Darkside Skinny Dippers, which considers the Nail its home base, even released a live album on vinyl earlier this year, recorded at a New Year’s Eve show at the Nail.

In the past few years, Rusty Nail regular Peter Allen has transformed the inside and outside of the bar with murals of mountains, herons, ponds and sunsets. He also maintains gardens of day lilies, vines and other flowers coating the building.

When Bruce and his friends bought the bar from Bill Pope, it was called E. John’s Lounge.

He and his business partner Bobby Dorman were tossing around “The Rusty Nail” and another name — he can’t remember what that one was. It was only after they chose The Rusty Nail that they learned there were many other bars around the country named after the Scotch and Drambuie drink.

“It pissed me off, actually,” he said with a laugh.

But as beer distribution truck drivers would bring him shirts from other Rusty Nails to swap, he felt grew to enjoy knowing there were Rusty Nails all over the place.

When Bruce was in his 20s, he first looked to buy a bar near his home in Westchester but couldn’t find any he really liked. During that time, he would come to Saranac Lake with friends to party. On one trip, he decided it might be a nice place to settle down.

He asked around and was told, “There’s this bar up the street there. But you might get thrown out the window before you go in there.”

Bruce approached then-owner Bill Pope and said he was looking to buy a bar.

“You want it?” Pope said immediately.

“He was more than eager to get out,” Bruce said with a laugh.

Bruce bought the Nail when he was in his mid-20s. It was a challenge and he spent a lot of time working double shifts.

“There were many nights that I actually slept here,” Bruce said.

He said he kept at it because of the people. If he doesn’t like the people he talks to every day, he’d change something, he said.

“You can’t go wrong with good people,” he said.

He enjoys hearing people talk about what’s going on in their lives, stories from their lives. Over the year’s, he’s acted as a therapist, a doctor, a banker and man of all knowledge.

When asked how he felt hitting the 50-year milestone, Bruce said “like s***,” but said he wouldn’t have been here for 50 years if he didn’t like it.

He plans to keep going as long as his body allows.

The 50th festivities last through the weekend with drink specials today and Sunday.

This afternoon, there will be a free barbecue and buffet with Darkside Skinny Dippers kicking off the rock ‘n’ roll at 2 p.m.

On Sunday, Salvador Sarmiento and Company will bring Americana roots folk jams from 4 to 7 p.m.

The music, food and community are free for the public.