Papa's Planet sold (aka Tequila Tom's)

4429 mcc

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dmJuice.com :: Juice-Bar Guide


Tom Baldwin recently added two new bars to his stable of popular nightspots.

Baldwin, who owns Drink, Crush, Wellman's and several others, purchased La Roca and Tequila Tom's (both at 208 Third St. downtown) from owner Larry Smithson.

Smithson had owned the property for the last 15 years.

Last year Baldwin bought Wellman's on Ingersoll and opened The Dublin in the Drake neighborhood, expanding his reach beyond his popular clubs in the western suburbs. He plans to keep the La Roca portion of the building the same, focusing on Latin music on Fridays and Saturdays. Tequila Tom's will reopen under a new name in the next few weeks.

Smithson, a longtime player in the downtown bar scene, said he plans to focus on his remaining bars: Surf Shack, Club Statik and Club A.M. downtown, and Las Coronas in West Des Moines. Smithson said Club Statik will become a no-cover dance club, and wants to add shuttle service between the club and Surf Shack.


Thank goodness, those places were really starting to bring down the whole revitalized scene of Court Ave. I would guess they will make a drink downtown location.
 

4429 mcc

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Help me out if you know this but is Drink in WDM a ripoff of Drink in Minneapolis? Whats the story there?
 

The_Architect

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Apr 11, 2006
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Finally get Smithson out there. That patio is one of the best in town and Tom will make that place successful in no time!
 

HILLCYD

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Nov 22, 2006
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Drink and Crush represent all of what is wrong with society today. I think I would rather have mullet headed idiots running around that dump on Court than a bunch of d-bags wearing sparkly shirts and driving dad's BMW.
 

dmclone

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Oct 20, 2006
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This guy should take a lesson from Full Court Press.

Compare this
Surf Shack, Club Statik, Club A.M. and Las Coronas

To this
Hessen Haus, High Life, El Bait Shop, Royal Mile,Red Monk(my fav), Shorty's and Buzzard Billy's
 

The_Architect

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Smithson is a total d-bag and slimeball. He's been ruining downtown for years and partially responsible for all the losers that used to make up the downtown scene. Thankfully, the re-energized downtown is forcing him to pack and and leave.(for the most part).
 

cybsball20

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Nov 26, 2006
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Smithson is a total d-bag and slimeball. He's been ruining downtown for years and partially responsible for all the losers that used to make up the downtown scene. Thankfully, the re-energized downtown is forcing him to pack and and leave.(for the most part).

He needs to stay on the other side of the river and maybe try to make some kind of 'warehouse district' of clubs or something. Or he could get out the bar business all together and I wouldn't mind.

I hope Baldwin has a good idea for that corner space, with that patio it could be a really cool place.
 

delt4cy

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May 11, 2006
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This is what Court Ave. has needed in a long time.

I don't care what goes in there as long as it isn't brightly colored and blasting crappy 80's music! Teq. Tom's and Surfshack are complete dumps and they attract a shady crowd from what I can tell.

IMO if they built a deck on top of the current patio and gave it a Bourbon Street type of feel that would be pretty sweet. I know that won't happen but I can wish right.

DSM is definitely turning a corner. While growing up I never would've thought downtown was a place to go out but now I actually live downtown and enjoy it.
 

dosry5

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Nov 28, 2006
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Drink and Crush represent all of what is wrong with society today. I think I would rather have mullet headed idiots running around that dump on Court than a bunch of d-bags wearing sparkly shirts and driving dad's BMW.


That's in August at the State Fair....
 

The_Architect

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Apr 11, 2006
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He needs to stay on the other side of the river and maybe try to make some kind of 'warehouse district' of clubs or something. Or he could get out the bar business all together and I wouldn't mind.

I hope Baldwin has a good idea for that corner space, with that patio it could be a really cool place.

He does, just trying to figure out a good name still.
 

4429 mcc

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Drink and Crush represent all of what is wrong with society today. I think I would rather have mullet headed idiots running around that dump on Court than a bunch of d-bags wearing sparkly shirts and driving dad's BMW.


There's a reason why those d bags are wearing sparkly shirts and driving dad's BWM. Because there are actually women their and they're trying to get laid!

Thank god women actually wear cocktail dress and heels downtown now. Downtown should be for getting all prettied up and having a good time, whether it be listen to a band or cutting a rug. Sitting around and drinking beer in your jeans and fav flannel is cool but I'd rather not have that where I folks from out of town to go out and have a good time. JMO
 
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HILLCYD

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Nov 22, 2006
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There's a reason why those d bags are wearing sparkly shirts and driving dad's BWM. Because there are actually women their and they're trying to get laid!

Thank god women actually wear cocktail dress and heels downtown now. Downtown should be for getting all prettied up and having a good time, whether it be listen to a band or cutting a rug. Sitting around and drinking beer in your jeans and fav flannel is cool but I'd rather not have that where I folks from out of town to go out and have a good time. JMO

I am not even sure how to respond to this other than to say be careful with your dad's car.
 

Cy Heavy

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Aug 29, 2006
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Drink and Crush represent all of what is wrong with society today. I think I would rather have mullet headed idiots running around that dump on Court than a bunch of d-bags wearing sparkly shirts and driving dad's BMW.

I'll take daddy's girls from WDM downtown over the big earl's castoff that currently hang out at Smithson's places downtown.
 

Me State

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Oct 19, 2007
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There's a reason why those d bags are wearing sparkly shirts and driving dad's BWM. Because there are actually women their and they're trying to get laid!

Thank god women actually wear cocktail dress and heels downtown now. Downtown should be for getting all prettied up and having a good time, whether it be listen to a band or cutting a rug. Sitting around and drinking beer in your jeans and fav flannel is cool but I'd rather not have that where I folks from out of town to go out and have a good time. JMO

Downtown at night is a very nice treat for the eyes these days!:yes:
 

clones26

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Nov 8, 2006
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I am not even sure how to respond to this other than to say be careful with your dad's car.

actually its an Escalade, not a car...duh :rolleyes: Thank heavens for Papa slum lord leaving that area. I always wanted to go to Tequila Toms or whatever one of the 20 names was but it never looked good. Should give People's a run for its money this summer since there is a patio, although People's has the music thing down