Last Call at King Eddy Saloon

A man in a wheelchair passes by the door at the King Eddy Saloon. Many of the bar’s regulars live upstairs in the King Edward Hotel, which offers low-cost housing.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

The King Eddy Saloon, right, is downtown’s last skid row bar. The 1906 building it is located in has been purchased by a development group that plans significant upgrades.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Patrons old and new hang out at King Eddy Saloon, where a microwaved burrito and a draft beer go for $4.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

“I’ve been coming here for about $30,000 dollars ago” says local Bilol Ali (center), who is having a drink with friend Joe Thomas.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Dustin Croix took over the bar in 2008 from his father, in photo. Dustin is the third in his family to run the place.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

“I’ve been bartending here at King Eddy since the early ‘90s,” says Irene Rivera, mixing a rum and Coke.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Bill Roller, 75, manager of the King Eddy Saloon, is retiring after this week. Roller has been at the bar for more than 30 years, and when he first started there was a dress code of dark pants and a white shirt.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

A regular reads the newspaper early in the evening. King Eddy will celebrate its second-to-last night on Saturday with an auction of its knick-knacks and crock pots.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Bill Roller, manager of the King Eddy Saloon, stands near an old trapdoor in the basement that was used during Prohibition days. During that time King Eddy operated an illegal speak-easy in the basement, and murals from the era remain in the basement.   (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)