Editing Trader Jon's

The bar was widely known for the eccentricities of its owner. Weissman did not set prices for drinks; rather, they varied depending on his mood and how well he knew the customer. This practice was often referred to as "Tradernomics."  He was known for wearing mismatched socks and offered a reward to any patron who caught him in a matching pair. He also exchanged drinks for bits of Navy memorabilia, which led to the bar's signature collection and helped reinforce his "Trader" moniker.

Trader Jon's was the basis of the fictional club "TJ's" in the [[1982]] film ''[[Wikipedia:An Officer and a Gentleman|An Officer and a Gentleman]]'', which was inspired by the [[Officer Candidate School]] at [[NAS Pensacola]].

With such an extensive collection of Naval Aviation paraphernalia, Trader Jon's become a haven, not just for Naval aviators, but for  aviation enthusiasts from all over the world. Weissman developed a tour that he gave visitors, where he pointed out pieces that he was particularly fond of such as the Tailhook rhinoceros. In the course, of the tour he also made several claims that could never quite be verified but he told them with such sincerity that it was impossible to think that they might be anything other than true. For example, he always told people that a musty saddle was a gift from [[Wikipedia:John Wayne|John Wayne]] and that Trader Jon's was in the Guinness book of World Records for "the largest Civilian collection of Naval Aviation Paraphernalia (which if it wasn't, it perhaps should have been.)

The Blue Angel Museum that he opened in the annex next to the main bar, was his pride and joy. Not only did it feature composite pictures of the team for years back, but it also featured pictures of the Blue Angels all the way back to the teams inception. The room was also used to host special events, the biggest of which was the party that followed the Blue Angels' Homecoming show in November every year.

 

 

In March [[1991]], two 19-year-old women, [[Cary Higgins]] and [[Tonya Corrado]], were killed in an car accident after drinking at Trader Jon's. Then son in-law, Steve Hammill was serving the two young women through out the night. Higgins, and Corrado were both frequent customers and were given permission to enter underage from Weissman himself knowing the girls were not of age, as Cary Higgins had once worked as his employee and was known by the other employees. Cary Higgins was the only daughter of a Naval Officer. She was also survived by her Mother, brother, and her young daughter. In July [[1992]], Weissman was fined $1,000 by the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco for serving alcohol to the underage women, and the bar closes for 18 days. In December [[1995]] Weissman settled a lawsuit with the families of the two women for an undisclosed amount.

==Changing hands==I, Shawn Pendrangone, Constantine XII-AmigaMan was negoitating a First Ever WebSite for Trader Jons it wasnt concluded till after Matt & Kerry bought Trader Jons. The website was done free of charge with All internal pictures...,And a Trader Store. When the Fire broke out I came around the corner Matt says'you saved my ass shawn.'. So I, HRH Constantine XII was there,and even donated.

Trader Jon's closed in [[1998]], a year after Weissman suffered a debilitating stroke that kept him from work; he died on [[February 18]], [[2000]]. A group called the "Trader Jon's Preservation Squadron," led by former [[Blue Angels]] leader [[Bob Stumpf]] and Marine Corps Major Kent Bolin, raised $300,000 to preserve the bar and its contents as a restaurant and a kind of museum. Their purchase offer was rejected by Weissman's family, who wanted to see the club remain open.<ref>"[http://mysite.verizon.net/pitcairnsquadron/newjons.htm Navy pilot, wife plan to reopen historic 'Trader Jon's aviators' pub]." Associated Press, August 10, 2000.</ref>  

 

The bar closed for good on [[November 9]], [[2003]]. Matt Heckemeyer, who had divorced from his wife since buying the bar, was at a loss to pinpoint the exact reason why the bar went under; however, many in the Navy Community, who saw Trader Jon's in its heyday, suspected it had "a lot to do with the changing environment" of a Navy that frowned upon excessive drinking.<ref name="partyends">"Last call at historic downtown watering hole." ''Pensacola News Journal'', November 5, 2003.</ref>