When The Bit Saloon announced it was closing in October 2009, it left scores of metal, punk and hardcore bands, not to mention countless other fans of the 62-year-old Ballard bar, in despair.

Reactions to the news that The Bit, located at 4818 17th Ave. N.W., was closing ranged from "That sucks" to "Where the hell am I going to drink now?"

But, thanks to two Burien residents, the bar has been given a second life, revived as The 2 Bit Saloon.

Jessica Young and Jamie Bernard took over the lease in January and officially opened The 2 Bit May 8.

Young has 12 years of experience as a bartender, most recently seven years at The Funhouse downtown.

"Jamie has lots of experience in going to bars," Young joked.

Last years, Young and Bernard were looking for opportunities to start their own bar because Young said she didn't want to be a bartender forever and she wanted to help keep local music alive in small venues.

The two focused their search in Ballard and Fremont. Young said those neighborhoods are old Seattle, and while they have a few condos, they still maintain an industrial area, which cuts down on noise complaints for live music.

Young said she knew former Bit Saloon owner Ed Konek through a mutual friend and heard the bar was in trouble.

When they saw The Bit, they knew it was the place for them, she said.

"Jamie was like, 'Man, that's exactly the kind of bar I want to own,'" Young said.

Bernard said The 2 Bit Saloon allows them to customize the building however they want, as well as involve the community while combining beer and music.

Young said they were lucky to get the lease because six or seven other businesses were interested in the property.

So far, The 2 Bit Saloon (the name was changed to signify new ownership and because "2 Bit" is a better known phrase) has been a success with more business than they expected, Young said.

"We have the doors open," she said. "People are in here having fun."

The name isn't the only thing that changed with the new ownership. Young and Bernard redid the bathrooms, added extensive woodwork to the exterior, removed the "giant, gross" carpet, added bullets and portholes on the interior surfaces and much more.

"The biggest success was just getting the door open because it was a lot of work," Young said.

One of the most noticeable changes is the large mural on the north side of the building, painted by friends of Young and Bernard. It features a herd of galloping horses, a steaming train and a mural of the late Capt. Phil Harris of "Deadliest Catch," who Young described as a Ballard hero.

Young said bands were stoked to hear the bar was reopening and maintaining its focus on punk, hardcore and metal. She also said neighbors have thanked them for doing just enough to improve the bar without turning it into an over-priced yuppie destination.

Young said she and Bernard don't need to do much to The 2 Bit Saloon to make it stand out from the crowded Ballard bar scene – it's already one of the oldest, if not the oldest, bar in the area. All it has to do is be a neighborhood bar that is a nice place for bands to play, she said.