The Central Pacific Railroad established a major maintenance and refueling depot that sparked a rapid growth era for Wells. The Elite Bar was constructed on the site originally occupied by the Western Saloon. The Western Saloon was built in the late 1870's but burned to the ground in 1881. Construction of the Elite Bar was completed in 1913 by J. E. Smith and E.O. Haymond. The building was remodeled in 1938 when Joseph Firth assumed ownership and management and again in the 1970's when it became part of DiGrazia Wholesale.