Good bye, Whiskey River! :(

[helechopper]

I loved the Whiskey River. Dirk, Chaz, Jen, Russel, Andy, just a few of the people I've come to like over the years.

I haven't been there in years, but when I was, the River was the place to be. Fantastic food and service. Just so many good memories and I am sad to see it come to a close.

 

[ISUChippewa]

My best memory, and my only one really, was when Larry Eustachy bought me a shot when I was there for my 10-year high school reunion back in '02. In fact, I think that might have been the only time I was ever there.

 

[pulse]

Getting all up in arms about any bar in Ames is silly. Whiskey River was a fine dive bar. Its not like it was hard to get a beer there, or anywhere else.

 

[thatguy]

i'm going to pour one out for Whiskey tonight.
side note
I watched the fight between Detroit and Indiana in that bar.

 

[baller21]

i'm going to pour one out for Whiskey tonight.
side note
I watched the fight between Detroit and Indiana in that bar.

don't forget one for the homies

I won't miss their nasty downstairs crapper.

 

[cyclone1975]

Does anyone remember this place having goldfish races back in the day?

 

[HILLCYD]

I know some will be sad to see it go, but I won't. I got the creeps every time I was in there, and that place seriously has THE rudest bartenders I've seen anywhere in the country. I can't tell you how many times the bartender would look at someone waiting patiently at the bar for their turn (cash in their hand and a smile on their face), would make eye contact with them, then resume talking to their friends and ignoring customers. Good riddance to bad rubbish, I say. Whiskey River was a craphole.

Yeah man...I mean this doesn't happen ANYWHERE else in the whole wide world than WR.

That was pretty much the only bar in Ames I could stand anymore with the exception of Mothers.

 

[Frak]

The building is gonna be condemned at some point. The owners don't want to spend the money to fix it up. The bar owner is tired of being caught up in the b.s. As for the bartenders...well, I can't say I'd treat some of the trash that filled that place up on the weekends any better. I'll be there at some point tonight to watch it go down in flames though!

Isn't the owner of the property currently in prison? That's what I understood. Either way, I'll miss the place. They may have had bartenders that weren't all that friendly, I'd agree with that. But, to me, that was a bar (maybe the only one) that could be comfortable for BOTH the student crowd and 30-somethings. It always had a good diverse crowd IMO. Good jukebox that played the music loud enough, good foos and pool competition. The bathroom area was a little creepy though.

I hope that with that location, someone would buy the place and rennovate. I believe that if someone sunk some money into the place, it could be the best bar on Main St. Gotta wonder though, is just the bar for sale or is the actual property for sale? I really doubt that the property owner is going to be able to lease a space that will require that much investment.

 

[BugDoc]

Used to love hanging out at The River. This is truely a sad day. :no:

 

[cycoticfan]

helped open that bar long ago. Lived in the same house in Friley with one of the original owners. We would be about the only customers in there at first during the week until it got rolling. When food got added I don't think I ever paid for nachos when I went in there, a payback to longtime friendship and loyalty.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

I remember when it used to be Mondo's. It was almost mandatory to park in the back parking lot and enter Mondos through the back door and walk through to see who was there before hitting Main Street.

 

[cyclonenum1]

Hating on the Whiskey River? Shame on you....It was very much a great place full of clone fans watching games and eating brilliant food.


Rude bartenders or was it really bad customers?

This place is/was an institution in Ames...this is like tearing down an old building on campus. The food was absolutely outstanding!

Yes, very interesting, my son has been doing some waiting this summer and his perspective has changed a great deal relative to 'poor service' and customers.

 

[cyclonenum1]

Getting all up in arms about any bar in Ames is silly. Whiskey River was a fine dive bar. Its not like it was hard to get a beer there, or anywhere else.

Whisky River was way more than just about getting "a beer". It was the ambiance, it was the history, it was the food...WR was an institution.

 

[candg4ever]

This is truly sad, although WR isn't what it used to be. I worked there for a few years for the original owners, and you couldn't find a better crew of bartenders or customers. Friday and Saturday nights usually found 50-75 people outside in line waiting to get in. Wasn't a lot different back then, just great people and good music!

Sadly, downtown Ames isn't what it used to be 20 yrs. ago.:sad:

 

[pulse]

Whisky River was way more than just about getting "a beer". It was the ambiance, it was the history, it was the food...WR was an institution.

I meant about the people complaining about waiting for a beer. I like WR too. I didn't go there very often, but always had a good time there.