Best Campustown Bars by Decade

[CYdTracked]

98-02 Welch Ave Station and the OG Cy's Roost before they got shut down for a bit then re-opened after a renovation to what it is now were my 2 favorites. Welch Ave Station still is my go-to today when I want a place to pre-game. Would go to Sips and Paddy's on occasion. I was at opening night of Mickey's which was a fun time. Whiskey River on Main St was and is still probably my favorite place on Main St. Would occasionally go to Corner Pocket and whatever the bar was called above it when they had an "any coin" drink night.

Outlaws was name the Dean's List back in that era. Wasn't a place I liked to go to regularly but the $7 all you could drink nights that place would be packed. Was never a fan of People's but that was a popular place during that time period too.

 

[LarryISU]

1970's Cave-In was the popular bar, on Welch just north of Lincolnway. But my favorite find back then was Pizza House on Lincolnway. They had this crazy thing they did where they gave you free refills on your Coke to go with your pizza. Back in 1972 or 1973, that was unheard of.

 

[cycloner29]

98-02 Welch Ave Station and the OG Cy's Roost before they got shut down for a bit then re-opened after a renovation to what it is now were my 2 favorites. Welch Ave Station still is my go-to today when I want a place to pre-game. Would go to Sips and Paddy's on occasion. I was at opening night of Mickey's which was a fun time. Whiskey River on Main St was and is still probably my favorite place on Main St. Would occasionally go to Corner Pocket and whatever the bar was called above it when they had an "any coin" drink night.

Outlaws was name the Dean's List back in that era. Wasn't a place I liked to go to regularly but the $7 all you could drink nights that place would be packed. Was never a fan of People's but that was a popular place during that time period too.

Probably mine also. I usually go one or twice a week and once in while for Sunday for their brunch. Sunday night and Monday night you can get 20 bone-in wings for $16.

 

[qwerty]

A year or so ago there was still 1 a block or so N of main st. Didn't go in same building as Dallas Club(?)/ Dangerous Curves. As long as there are 20-40 somethings there will be Shaker bars. The dirty is down to just 1 compared to 3 in its heyday.

It is merely coincidence, but Muscatine had 3 in early 90s. I got married and all three closed within one year.

 

[clones_jer]

It is merely coincidence, but Muscatine had 3 in early 90s. I got married and all three closed within one year.

is a "shaker bar" a strip club (or bikini bar like Dangerous curves)? Are you implying you married 1 stripper and then put 3 other clubs out of business by not frequenting them anymore?

 

[NetflixAndClone]

I think this is a mostly complete list of what's been in the building that's currently occupied by Outlaws. Might have missed something here and there. Businesses had a tendency to change over breaks, hence the overlap in years.

If time allows, I may dig into some other addresses.

2522 Chamberlain	1972-73	Rippey's Orchard
	1973-77	Jolly's Place and Pizza Emporium
	1977-80	Alibi (aka Fast Eddie's Alibi)
	1980	Billboard Lounge / Spaghetti and Pizza Factory
	1981	Billboard Lounge / Club Chamberlain
	1982	Billboard / Johnny's Ringside Lounge
	1983-84	Billboard / Stereo Sound Studios
	1984-86	State's Fieldhouse / Stereo Sound Studios
	1986	Beamer's / Stereo Sound Studios
	1987-88	Beamer's
	1989-90	Beamer's / Foul Play
	1991-92	The Coliseum
	1993-94	The Coliseum / Last Call
	1994-95	The Coliseum / Shamrox!
	1995	Dean's List / Temporary Enrollment
	1996-99	Dean's List
	1999-2001	Dean's List / New Tazzles (aka Tazzles 2)
	2001-04	Big Shots
	2004-06	Reign
	2006-07	Reign / Element / Outlaws
	2007	Reign / Outlaws
	2008-24	Outlaws

I was 13-18, never saw the appeal of outlaws in my time there. Bar was absolutely disgusting especially since i caught dudes pissing the stairways in the back a few times.

I like AJ's to end the night since if you wanted to take a girl home that where they all ended up at the end of the night plus their Friday after class was a great deal. Blue owl seemed dead outside of trivia so it was nice if you just wanted to sit and talk with no line at the bartender.

Sips had the stickiest floors on welch but sips-o-clock was hard to top. District was fun for the popcorn less for not paying their employees. Always loved getting tacos at Es Tas.

 

[Paz23]

basement of 124 Welch, and subway was at 122 welch..... subway made a killing with everyone leaving tazzles grabbing a sandwich to soak up all the beer from the tazzles beer smorgasboard

Had a buddy that worked the door at Tazzles. During a blizzard on a Thursday in January or February of '94, their beer delivery never made it. I had an old beat up orange 1979 Dodge ex-DOT pickup in my name that we used for VEISHEA float construction, so he came in and asked if I could go pick up 6 kegs at the Keg Shop and bring them to Tazzles. He said beer would be free there for me "for a while".

I get to the store and tell the guy, as instructed, that I was there to pick up 2 kegs each of Miller Lite, Bud Light and Coors Light for Tazzles bar and they should have arranged it. Guy says yep, no problem, just back in and we'll load it.

6 kegs come rolling out on a cart two at a time and they throw them in the back of the pickup. I see the plastic tap covers with the Milwaukee's Best logo and said, "hold up. That's the wrong beer.". The guy laughs and says, "No, it's the right beer".

 

[scclone3]

Lost and Found Lounge

 

[CtownCyclone]

Lumpy's, anyone?

 

[washedup82]

Lmao. The place was an absolute ******* dump. However there was something very charming about it given that stage of our lives wasnt there? I remember when the door for the men's room was a shower curtain at one time. I remember just taking a piss on the floor in the corner instead of even using the bathroom. The wires hanging down from the ceiling, etc..

Lumpy's was my absolute favorite!!! People's was the place to be, but when it got too packed we'd go downstairs and get after it.

 

[Peter]

I was an intellectual so I liked to chain smoke and get hammered on Long Islands at Café Beaudelaire

 

[dt82]

The Scene / Tazzles / Big Shots / Deans List
Honorable Mention - Diamond Dave's Tuesday nights
(iykyk - progressive tall boy capt cokes)

 

[CyCrazy]

The Scene / Tazzles / Big Shots / Deans List
Honorable Mention - Diamond Dave's Tuesday nights
(iykyk - progressive tall boy capt cokes)

Diamond Dave's, damn thats one I haven't heard of in a long time.

 

[DrClone]

Can't remember the name of the Main Street bar, but Carl and Marty would perform there

Sportsman. Often when we get together with college friends Carl and Marty still come up. They were hilarious.

 

[Cyched]

I was an intellectual so I liked to chain smoke and get hammered on Long Islands at Café Beaudelaire

Key word is 'was'

 

[CtownCyclone]

I was an intellectual so I liked to chain smoke and get hammered on Long Islands at Café Beaudelaire

I think I've posted this before, but I had the owner of that bar as a stats professor even though he was an AeroE guy. That guy sucked, and I stopped going there after I found out that it was his place.

Did manage to liberate a few glasses and an ashtray on the way out, though.

 

[qwerty]

Diamond Dave's, damn thats one I haven't heard of in a long time.

Still have one thriving in Muscatine . . . strangely, I really like their house burger.

 

[ema28]

Anyone remember white trash night at Peoples with Kentucky Fried Mullet in the early 2000s That was easily the most fun and most packed bar night around!

 

[ema28]

Lumpy's, anyone?

Anyone who frequented Lumpys is probably immune to hantavirus

 

[deadeyededric]

is a "shaker bar" a strip club (or bikini bar like Dangerous curves)? Are you implying you married 1 stripper and then put 3 other clubs out of business by not frequenting them anymore?

Dangerous Scurves. Hey let's go watch pregnant meth addicts dance in bikinis. So hot!