I was there 83-89 and lived a block away from Dugan's (230 Campus apartments which are still going). Never went in.
Best Campustown Bars by Decade
- Thread starter State2015
- Start date
Dugan's from 1973-1994, according to this source.
I also went there occasionally in the mid-'80s time frame.
My former band played its first gig there during that time frame.
You coulda come over!
I was at ISU 90-94. I had always heard it was a gay bar. Never went since I thought that hurt my chances even more with the ladies.
My son is at ISU now, since turning 21 and living on Campus Ave he frequently goes to Mother's Pub.
Loves the $2 Tall Boys.....
Loves the $2 Tall Boys.....
86-90 here. To be honest, I turned 18 or 19 26 days after the drinking age went up to 21, never really did much off campus as my early years I hung out with upper classmen and they still had alcoholic dorm parties. My later years I hung out with underclassmen who were too young to go out.My former band played its first gig there during that time frame.
You coulda come over!
Consequently, I made a number of trips back to Ames after graduating, and when we did go out it was Dugan's Deli. Where I experienced The Sundogs for the first time( local reggae band), who I have seen as much as possible whenever they get back together. They had two epic shows at Gabe's in Iowa City on New Year's Eve or Day 2 consecutive years, one of which coincided with a 15 inch snowfall requiring everybody to stay with my girlfriend in our 1 bedroom apartment. Those were the days.....
Although in that era the ratio made quite a few places seem gay at first look.
I was at ISU from 2001-2004 and although I went to them all Mickey's was my favorite. Mickey's was for everyone. I thought Sips was the absolute most overrated bar in town. Unless you were Greek the regulars thought you were trash. I remember Tony Yelk working there. Good dude. Ill take a house party over the bar any day of the week though. We had some big ones on Hunt St.
I still have my Deans List mug. Welch Ave. Was my regular go to. Trent was still bartending when I went there last year.
I have quite a few of the bar mugs. I saw my Lumpy's "dive club" mug the other day in my closet.
I spent a lot of time at Lumpys too. It was like partying in Buffalo Bills basement from Silence of the Lambs.
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..
BACK IN MY DAY THEY WERE $1 AT FAC
Do they still have coin drink specials? I always enjoyed going uptown to The Zone penny pitchers. Then Big Shots started doing them.
I was in Ames throughout the 80s. Welch Ave Station was our go-to joint, but we spent (too much) time in pretty much all of them. I could build a cup snake that reaches the Campanile tower for all the nickel/dime/dollar draws I've drank of crappy, slightly flat beer at Cave-Inn. But it was cheap. Damn, that was a long time ago....Also, the shaker bar was terrible, do they even have those in college towns anymore?
Tony Yelk worked the door at Paddy's/Sips. He was great and let me pass the line. Paddy's was my go to...Sips was if you wanted to dance!
