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The Three D’s
Category: Erie, PA, General, Memories, Millcreek 
Back in 1964, the Williams brothers opened another West Lake Road bar named the 3-D’s. The Williams brothers owned a baking company which produced lunch box size pies called “William’s Pies.” Imagine that? I distinctly remember the pies and they were pretty darn good. My favorite was the coconut cream pie and I couldn’t get enough of them. As a matter of fact, the bar’s managing brother was nicknamed Pie Williams.
The 3-D’s became one of the most infamous bars Erie has ever known. It catered to the Gannon College crowd and just about every other college kid who came home for the holidays. You could bet you college fund you would always run into a long lost high school friend during the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays. If you didn’t, you were sure to make new and life long friends for sure. I especially like the night before Thanksgiving at the D’s. Wild Turkey shooters were the poison of the night.
Pudge Williams eventually bought the bar from his father and two uncles and continued to successfully run the place for years. Wednesday nights at the 3-D’s were phenomenal nights for anyone who could survive the night. Singles, married-ones on the prowl, recently divorced and just about anything else you can imagine made fools of themselves under the influence of alcohol and the music that played on the dance floor. Friday nights were awesome if you were on the prowl and Saturday nights were reserved for the steady girlfriend or wives depending on one’s situation. Drinks were cheap, the music was good, and the morning after made you swear you would never do it again. Most likely you swore the place off because of the spinning ceilings from the night before or possibly because of the fool you made of yourself from too much booze. But most always, everyone seemed to come back for more.
Pudgie sold the place around the year 2000 to a couple of guys whose names escape me. It’s my understanding that shortly after they bought the place, a shooting occurred and that ended it all. From the appearance of the building, which now looks like a dive, the bar hasn’t prospered to well under the new ownership and really should be torn down in the name of neighborhood beautification.
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Hi there. The guy who purchased the D’s in 2000 was a young man named Jerry Bruno. I worked for his mother when he bought it. Jerry loved that bar, but it definitely soured his feelings when the shooting happened. My husband and I met friends there a few months ago, and promptly left after one drink. I wouldn’t go back in there anytime soon. It’s a dump.
Hi there Brandy. The name Jerry Bruno doesn’t ring a bell with me even though I’m familiar with several Bruno families in Erie. It must have been horrible to say the least to put everything on the line and have one bad incident such as a shooting destroy his dreams.
I agree… the William’s pies were awesome. My favorite was the cherry. The crust was very tasty and had a great texture. That was back when they used real ingredients and had a short shelf life. I can recount many embarassing moments from the D’s.
Hi James. Jerry’s parents are Sheilah and Ernie Bruno. Jerry is my age (33). When he owned it, it was a great place. We even held out Christmas party there one year. It was a LOT of fun!
I enjoyed the 3 D’s during my first year (’64)at Gannon and thereafter. Many times I would go back and forth between the D’s and the Village across the street. Luckily, it was walking distance and it was always easier to park at the Village.