Best Campustown Bars by Decade (2024)

2speedy1 said:

yeah you are right. But the one I am talking about was out in the lot are, not "In" the mall.

might have been a Okoboji or Bennigans or something. I drank a lot, then so memory is foggy...LOL

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Diamond Dave's was in the parking lot where the Walgreens now sits.

Cyclonsin said:

Wallaby's used to be over by the West Hyvee. Is that what you're thinking?

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Oh crap, you're right.

State2015 said:

Was thinking about this in the thread about old places in Ames that have since closed. Got me wondering what were the best spots in Campustown each decade. Other than Cy's and Welch ave station I feel like most everything there is new from this century.

When I was at school in the 2010s it was always Cys, Sips/Paddys, Welch Ave, and AJs were the big ones with some minor ones sprinkled in there (District was great for a bit too RIP). Charlie Yoke's closed before I was 21 and Outlaws was obviously big but I wasn't in that crowd. Curious what this is for the 70s/80s/90s/2000s? Would love to hear about some great hole in the wall spots too and what's in it's place now.

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houjix said:

Diamond Dave's was in the parking lot where the Walgreens now sits.

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No, I dont believe it was DD. But I could be wrong. My memory sucks, especially for names, the amount of alcohol consumed probably doesnt help.

I had no money to go to the bars in the early 90s. Think I went to Cy's once in 4 years.

Only place I probably went multiple times was the pool hall downtown, whatever that was called at the time.

Did have a Whiskey River/BJ's Hitchin' Post combo one night though...

Early 2010’s. Used to watch basketball games at EsTas or Welch Ave Station.

- Wednesday was $1 drinks at Mickey’s or Top Shelf Night at EsTas.
- Thursday was Mug Night! There were the usual spots like Paddy’s or Cy’s. There was also a place called Charlie Yokes that opened and closed a few times.
- Friday was FAC at Cy’s. They had free hot dogs sometimes. AJ’s ultra lounge was always jammed later on in the night.

To answer the question, I lived above EsTas my senior year and spent a lot of time there so I’m partial to it. There was even a “secret bathroom” under the apartment building nextdoor that was a much better experience than the EsTas bathroom.

Also forgot to mention The Keg Shop on west Lincolnway. Not a bar, but they consistently supplied me with those $35 kegs of PBR that fueled my party appetite.

Just read where the West Town Pub has closed after 18 years. Never went there but absolutely hated the screaming on screen commercials on the video board during timeouts. The owner yelling “we love the Cyclones” was enough to make me want to skip the place.

houjix said:

Diamond Dave's was in the parking lot where the Walgreens now sits.

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That was Okoboji Grill.
DD's was in the very South East corner of the mall by the theater showtimes display.

When I was there in the mid 90’s, I recall the main Campustown bars were People’s, Tazzles, Cy’s Roost, Welsh Ave, and Dean’s List.

Welsh Ave on Wednesdays for burger basket specials, Welsh Ave on Thursdays for pitcher night (and/or used those coupons from the coupon books you’d get at the bookstore), and Tazzle’s on Friday nights for the unlimited $4 drinks. Only hit People’s pending on bands playing and never hit the Dean’s List.

StevieISU23 said:

Mo-Jazz Bar, just West of Welch, on Lincoln way.
Circa 2000ish...

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Owner would sit on a stool telling people to come in for 3fers, 4fers, 5fers.

Basem*nt was something else.

2speedy1 said:

Not in the Mall, By the Mall.

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I think Okoboji Grill was by the mall.

StevieISU23 said:

Mo-Jazz Bar, just West of Welch, on Lincoln way.
Circa 2000ish...

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Coming here to post that I can't believe no one has mentioned Mo-Jazz and their pitcher/penny pitcher nights. I believe that closed 2004/early 2005 though.

Does anyone remember the bar that used be Sgt Pepper's before Sgt Peppers? I believe it was Phuel/Fuel?

JK4ISU said:

I think Okoboji Grill was by the mall.

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Yeah the more I think about it the more I think it was Okoboji grill.

Places I remember from the mid 70's when I attended (and the legal age was 18)
Campustown area
Cave Inn Complex
Rathskellar (the basem*nt bar)
Lucky Q (upstairs, north side)
To many different places to remember (upstairs, south side)
The Library
Downtown
That Place (known for their peanuts)
Grand Daddy's
Copper Dollar
Mr. B's

West of Campus
Dugan's Deli
Tork's Pup

Each with a least one memory that cannot be shared with wives or children.

zumbro clones said:

80-84

Said it better than me:

NWICY​

https://cyclonefanatic.com/forum/threads/in-memoriam-ames-business-restaurants.237059/page-10

"Bars that are long gone Thumbs Up, The Billboard, The Hallway, top of the town, Granddaddy's, That Place (peanut shells all over the floor) Virginia City, Mississippi Queen/ the Brewery(?). Didn't include Cave Inn and the Library because they still exist but have new names Sips(?) and can't remember but somebody mentioned it earlier up thread right below pizza pit."

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Billboard was great. Had a topless bar in the basem*nt for a while. Not the highest class of dancers if you know what I mean. Drinking age was 19 in 1980 so easier to get in. Wrestling great Willie Gadson was a bouncer at The Billboard. Mississippi Queen had some good bands come thru there. Saw Loverboy there in 80 or 81 and saw them in Hilton early 82, they had blown up that fast.