Irvin E. Koch, a 103-year-old bartender from Pasadena, Maryland, has been serving drinks at a basement bar in his waterfront home for more than six decades. Since 1963, Koch has tended bar at what local patrons affectionately call "Irv’s Basement Bar," a dive-style establishment located in the basement of his house near Baltimore.

The bar, known unofficially as one of the world’s oldest continuously operated taverns by its bartender, occupies a retro, timeworn space packed with decades of memorabilia. Its walls, ceiling tiles, and furniture are covered with scrawled messages, photographs, and police patches. A distinctive feature is the extensive collection of bras hanging from the ceiling, a tradition started by a patron named Amy decades ago. The bar maintains a cash-only policy and operates with no set hours, opening when the first customer arrives and closing when patrons leave or when Koch decides to call it quits for the day.

Koch grew up in a poor Baltimore neighborhood during the Great Depression. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, stationed in the Philippines, and later worked as a builder and plumber before becoming a bartender. The house that houses the bar was originally a summer home for a prominent Baltimore family, then an inn, before Koch purchased it in the early 1960s. The bar came with the house, and Koch embraced the role of bartender, a position he has held ever since.

Jason Cook, Koch’s stepgrandson, has lived with him for several years, helping to care for the centenarian and managing day-to-day activities around the property. Cook describes Koch as a straightforward, talkative man with a sharp wit and generous heart, who enjoys social interaction and the community atmosphere the bar fosters. Despite Koch's gruff demeanor and frank opinions on various subjects—ranging from distrust of credit cards to a dislike of tattoos and urban areas—regulars appreciate his kindness and the authenticity he brings to the establishment.

The bar attracts a variety of patrons, from local residents to police officers, drawn to its nostalgic ambiance and lack of modern amenities such as websites or formal operating hours. Visitors often describe the setting as a unique mix of quirky and familiar, likening it to a living relic of a bygone era before the rise of digital culture.

Koch has never held another job nor sought to retire from bartending. Even after the deaths of his wife and brother, he has continued to run the bar, finding purpose in the daily routine and social connections. At 103, he remains engaged and is looking forward to his 104th birthday.

Cook acknowledges the uncertain future of the bar, noting that its existence is likely tethered to Koch’s presence. “Everybody should come on down and check us out while they still can,” he said. The bar stands as a testament to Koch’s enduring commitment to a way of life that blends community, history, and personal resilience.