RIP - Cool bars no longer in Fargo/Moorhead

[bisonmike2]

I'm going to go with the 21st amendment. Closed down right after I turned 21 but I was lucky enough to get in there before it shut down. I liked the smoking/no smoking floors it had set up. Just a cool bar all around.

[sambini]

Trader and Trapper in Moorhead

[bisonaudit]

1st Ave

Nothing topped the 'Wallace Hartly & The Titanics' Halloween shows.

[SlickVic]

coaches was cool used to hit that up all the time in high school chea

[Wacker_in_the_Hall]

Trader and Trapper in Moorhead


Sambini speaks with straight tongue....Trader and Trapper was the finest provider of alcohol ever to grace the area. Lots of Bison greats spilled their guts after frequenting the joint. Sambini was a regular in the "old days"

(rumor has it that he even drank non Anheuser products......)

[aces1180]

I'm going to go with the 21st amendment. Closed down right after I turned 21 but I was lucky enough to get in there before it shut down. I liked the smoking/no smoking floors it had set up. Just a cool bar all around.

The 2-1 was sweet...I was in the same boat, as I turned 21 about 3 months before it closed. Ralph's in Moorhead was an interesting place. I had some guy offer me coke there, a first and last time that happened to me (And yes, I told him to buzz off). The OB used to be decent too, back in 2001 when they had the catwalk above the dancefloor.

Does anyone remember the name of that bar where the Noridian building is now? I never went there, but I was just curious of the name.

[bisonmike2]

Sambini speaks with straight tongue....Trader and Trapper was the finest provider of alcohol to minors to ever to grace the area. Lots of Bison greats spilled their guts after frequenting the joint. Sambini was a regular in the "old days"

(rumor has it that he even drank non Anheuser products......)

Fixed that for you. There were several times during my freshman year my sobriety was destroyed at the T-N-T. In a weird twist of fate, some of the brewing/bar equipment was sold to a brewery in my hometown of Watertown SD; including some of their old beer glasses with the T-N-T name and logo on them. So when I'm back home and can go and have a micro brew in a T-N-T glass.

[Bisonguy]

The 2-1 was sweet...I was in the same boat, as I turned 21 about 3 months before it closed. Ralph's in Moorhead was an interesting place. I had some guy offer me coke there, a first and last time that happened to me (And yes, I told him to buzz off). The OB used to be decent too, back in 2001 when they had the catwalk above the dancefloor.

Does anyone remember the name of that bar where the Noridian building is now? I never went there, but I was just curious of the name.

The Rock is the one you're looking for. It was something like the OB lite, but really went downhill before it closed.


I'd have to agree with sambini about he Trader and Trapper, although I frequented it in the mid-90's. Thirsty Thursdays, aka $5 all you can drink, 3 for 1's, place was packed to the rafters. Lots of fond memories, and plenty I don't remember.

[bisongirl]

[QUOTE=Bisonguy;173711]The Rock is the one you're looking for. It was something like the OB lite, but really went downhill before it closed.

The Rock did have Zorbaz pizza though! :hungry:
Thinking about that makes me want to take a drive down to the lakes! :nod:

[aces1180]

[QUOTE=Bisonguy;173711]The Rock is the one you're looking for. It was something like the OB lite, but really went downhill before it closed.

The Rock did have Zorbaz pizza though! :hungry:
Thinking about that makes me want to take a drive down to the lakes! :nod:

Going there tonight! Maybe I should bring some next Saturday?...Let me know and I will pick some up!

[aces1180]

The Rock is the one you're looking for. It was something like the OB lite, but really went downhill before it closed.


I'd have to agree with sambini about he Trader and Trapper, although I frequented it in the mid-90's. Thirsty Thursdays, aka $5 all you can drink, 3 for 1's, place was packed to the rafters. Lots of fond memories, and plenty I don't remember.

Thanks!...I was close, but for some reason I was thinking of Tropics and I knew that was wrong.

[bisonmike2]

Thanks!...I was close, but for some reason I was thinking of Tropics and I knew that was wrong.

Tropics burned down didn't it?

[UTH]

The Rock is the one you're looking for. It was something like the OB lite, but really went downhill before it closed.


I'd have to agree with sambini about he Trader and Trapper, although I frequented it in the mid-90's. Thirsty Thursdays, aka $5 all you can drink, 3 for 1's, place was packed to the rafters. Lots of fond memories, and plenty I don't remember.

Oh, yes. That would bring back memories, if only I wasn't so thirsty. That was good, a time when the most difficult decision of the day was to choose which beer to try next.


:cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

[aces1180]

Tropics burned down didn't it?

Yeah, one of the owners set it on fire...Then he tried to stab himself in the eye with a pen in jail...I wish I had the link to the story, but I'm being lazy right now.

[BlueBisonRock]

How about the Gaslight? Dime beers on Monday nights.

The Flame (which I am told burned down)

The Town Hall in West Fargo (interesting entertainment)

Or the Dugout (A hole in the wall on Main. Played city league football for their team after college)

And, of course, the Dirty Bird in east Moorhead

[roadwarrior]

How could we forget those classy hotspots along NP avenue?

Pussycat

Roundup

[sambini]

Lamplight in south Moorhead and Zodiac in south Moorhead. Back when the drinking age was 18. My oh My....

[TheBisonator]

Ralph's Corner Ralph's Corner Ralph's Corner Ralph's Corner Ralph's Corner

[Shawn-O]

Mick's South in the mid to late eighties.

[MN_BISON]

Lauerman's (both locations) and Kirby's.

[56BISON73]

How could we forget those classy hotspots along NP avenue?

Pussycat

Roundup
I worked a few times at the Round Up during the summer when they were having some problems. That area was really something. :D PL

[56BISON73]

How about the Gaslight? Dime beers on Monday nights.

The Flame (which I am told burned down)

The Town Hall in West Fargo (interesting entertainment)

Or the Dugout (A hole in the wall on Main. Played city league football for their team after college)

And, of course, the Dirty Bird in east Moorhead

You beat me to it. The Dirty Bird. I worked there when they changed the drinking age. Wild times that summer. There was also a bar in the Blackhawk Hotel (?) in Moorhead. There was also a 3.2 beer bar in Moorhead that was only open on Sundays. Jerry Keogh owned it. He also had Keogh construction. I worked for him at both places my 1st summer in Fargo. PL

[56BISON73]

The Grainery. PL

[sambini]

You beat me to it. The Dirty Bird. I worked there when they changed the drinking age. Wild times that summer. There was also a bar in the Blackhawk Hotel (?) in Moorhead. There was also a 3.2 beer bar in Moorhead that was only open on Sundays. Jerry Keogh owned it. He also had Keogh construction. I worked for him at both places my 1st summer in Fargo. PL
Jerrys in north Moorhead was a3.2 place.

[56BISON73]

Jerrys in north Moorhead was a3.2 place.

Thats where all the customers from the Round Up and the Pussy Cat went on Sundays. :D PL

[BlueBisonRock]

You beat me to it. The Dirty Bird. I worked there when they changed the drinking age. Wild times that summer. There was also a bar in the Blackhawk Hotel (?) in Moorhead. There was also a 3.2 beer bar in Moorhead that was only open on Sundays. Jerry Keogh owned it. He also had Keogh construction. I worked for him at both places my 1st summer in Fargo. PL

The Bird was an interesting experience. MN went to 18 three weeks before my 21st. So, the weekend before I turned 21 my buddy Butch and I hopped on our 10 speeds (dating myself again) and biked from near the campus to the Bird. Spent the better part of a Saturday afternoon enjoying ourselves. Left the Bird and stopped at Ralphs and one or two other spots. We were feeling real good and decided that almost 21 made us legal in ND. So we hit a few spots in Fargo ending at Chubs. The ride from Chubs to the campus was the toughest stretch that we faced that day. The bikes just did not want to go straight. Yes, both of us were scraped off of the bathroom floor that evening. PL, you may have been one of the folks who helped us decide to leave the Bird that day ;)

The memories!

[sambini]

Friday afternoons at the Trader and Trapper 13 cent taps my oh my.....

[56BISON73]

The Bird was an interesting experience. MN went to 18 three weeks before my 21st. So, the weekend before I turned 21 my buddy Butch and I hopped on our 10 speeds (dating myself again) and biked from near the campus to the Bird. Spent the better part of a Saturday afternoon enjoying ourselves. Left the Bird and stopped at Ralphs and one or two other spots. We were feeling real good and decided that almost 21 made us legal in ND. So we hit a few spots in Fargo ending at Chubs. The ride from Chubs to the campus was the toughest stretch that we faced that day. The bikes just did not want to go straight. Yes, both of us were scraped off of the bathroom floor that evening. PL, you may have been one of the folks who helped us decide to leave the Bird that day ;)

The memories!

The Bird actually had some good intertainment. Some big names played there also. Wayne Cochran was there and I cant remember who else.
PL

[Swaghook]

The Town Hall in West Fargo (interesting entertainment)


The Town Hall is still open.

[BlueBisonRock]

The Town Hall is still open.

Does it still have the same entertainment?

[Swaghook]

Does it still have the same entertainment?Are you refering to the days when it had strippers. Nope but as a bar it is not gone.

[Swaghook]

The 4-10 is a bar that is gone that had bands and strippers.;)

[BlueBisonRock]

Are you refering to the days when it had strippers. Nope but as a bar it is not gone.

Yep. I actually spent the last part of my batchelor party there.

[sambini]

The 4-10 is a bar that is gone that had bands and strippers.;)
Now called the Northern with a great noon buffet... on fridays..

[sambini]

The Bird actually had some good intertainment. Some big names played there also. Wayne Cochran was there and I cant remember who else.
PL Tiny Tim and tip toe thru the Tullips played there.

[02Bison]

Until the Fargo bars are all non-smoking, there is no such thing as a cool bar in Fargo.

[Mr_Meanor]

If you don't want to be around smoke...stay home!!!!!

[TransAmBison]

Until the Fargo bars are all non-smoking, there is no such thing as a cool bar in Fargo.
I don't believe that was the topic. Troll.

[56BISON73]

Tiny Tim and tip toe thru the Tullips played there.

How could I have forgotten that. Geeeez. PL

[Swaghook]

Now called the Northern with a great noon buffet... on fridays..I know but gone are the bands.

And speaking of bars that had bands Cactus Jacks is no more as well.

[02Bison]

I don't believe that was the topic. Troll.

Whoa...ease up there sir. Just because people worship you like god here, doesn't mean you have to act like him....j/k! I don't think bars that continue to allow smoking knowing what we know about its health effects both first hand and second hand are cool. Could they be cool? If they went smoke free, absolutely so. In no way was I trolling. I was stating my opinion on the matter. I've been places with smoke free bars and they were much more enjoyable to be at. The best part of smoke free bars...At the end of the night, I didn't wreak of smoke, my clothes didn't stink, and most importantly I don't feel like I have smoked 2 packs without having actually sucked on the end of a cigarette. Back in the day I frequented bars more, I would have to say I enjoyed Gecko's and places more of that sort over places like Bucks, the OB, etc. I haven't been there though since it changed over to Big D's. I also enjoyed the #2 Saloon. I'll take a good old bonfire, tailgate, with a case (or cases) of beer and friends over a trip to a Fargo Moorhead bar any day. But then again, I don't go to the bar with the same intentions as most people do. To that I say to each his/her own!

[sambini]

Lets put this thread back on course. The old Sports Bar when it was on NP ave. Jim Holwell was the owner. It was just a beer joint. Pool table upstairs and jukebox. The place use to rock. He had that 27 beer club once around the cooler. If you drank all of the 27 beers he had you got a tshirt.

[sambini]

I know but gone are the bands.

And speaking of bars that had bands Cactus Jacks is no more as well.
Yea they had great bands too. But the Northern buffet is ok on Fridays? Sunset Lounge you to have bands back in the day also.

[Da Bison]

Sambini speaks with straight tongue....Trader and Trapper was the finest provider of alcohol ever to grace the area. Lots of Bison greats spilled their guts after frequenting the joint. Sambini was a regular in the "old days"

(rumor has it that he even drank non Anheuser products......)
I can attest to that. Also the part about spilling your guts. They had a special promotion one Friday afternoon 13 cent draws or 1.13 pitchers. It was a hit. We would go 2 hours early to get a table and 3 pitchers.
Then Easgate started 2 for 1s but it still didn't work. When they went to 3 for 1s WOW (talk about spilling your guts)
My vote go's to TNT.

[Shawn-O]

Now called the Northern with a great noon buffet... on fridays..

Yes, very good Friday lunch buffet and a good stop on the way to FIGHTING SIOUX HOCKEY!

[56BISON73]

Whoa...ease up there sir. Just because people worship you like god here, doesn't mean you have to act like him....j/k! I don't think bars that continue to allow smoking knowing what we know about its health effects both first hand and second hand are cool. Could they be cool? If they went smoke free, absolutely so. In no way was I trolling. I was stating my opinion on the matter. I've been places with smoke free bars and they were much more enjoyable to be at. The best part of smoke free bars...At the end of the night, I didn't wreak of smoke, my clothes didn't stink, and most importantly I don't feel like I have smoked 2 packs without having actually sucked on the end of a cigarette. Back in the day I frequented bars more, I would have to say I enjoyed Gecko's and places more of that sort over places like Bucks, the OB, etc. I haven't been there though since it changed over to Big D's. I also enjoyed the #2 Saloon. I'll take a good old bonfire, tailgate, with a case (or cases) of beer and friends over a trip to a Fargo Moorhead bar any day. But then again, I don't go to the bar with the same intentions as most people do. To that I say to each his/her own!

Apparently you missed the just of the thread. It was a trip down memory lane of old watering holes and dives. But thanks for telling us about the effects of second hand smoke even though thats wasnt the topic of the thread and thanks for dropping the turd in the punch bowl. :D PL

[sambini]

Another place now gone PUNKYS PLACE on main ave Fargo. Home of the Mad Mugger 32oz. beers.

[sambini]

Pl You Muyst Reemember The Old Sports On Np Ave.?

[56BISON73]

Pl You Muyst Reemember The Old Sports On Np Ave.?

The Sports Bar that Cliff used to own?? PL

[sambini]

sAME PLACE++++++

[roadwarrior]

Stroupers
Five Spot - later known as Cripple Creek

[56BISON73]

sAME PLACE++++++

After the MN game this year a bunch of the players from the 1973 team were at Mattys and after a while one couldnt help notice all the good looking babes that were there. Someone asked in recollection if there were any good looking babes at NDSU when we were there because he couldnt remember seeing any when we all used to go out and have a few. I said yes there were allot of good looking babes when we were in school it was just they didnt hang out at Sports.:D
PL

[NDSU_grad]

Moorhead VFW. Saddle and Sirloin had dances there all the time and I generally knew a couple of bartenders. Would let me drink for free all night. That's about all I remember.
Cactus Jack's two dollar pitchers from noon to 6 on Fridays.

[WYOBISONMAN]

Here are WYO's top 5 - (Thank god Minnesota let us drink at 18)

1-The Trader and Trapper Who can forget Whopper night at the T. I still have my whopper glass!!

2- The Eastgate You gotta love anyplace that had 3 for 1 on bar pours and on Friday to boot. If I remember right 3fers ended at 6pm. You would go outside, be drunk as hell.....and it would still be daylight. Right before 3fers ended for the evening, we would each order 3 drinks and then have a whole table full of beverages to last another couple hours. And how about that lighted dance floor. A meat market extrodinaire!!!

3- The Lamplighter Live bands were always great at this place by the old Sher's kitchen in Moorhead. With Sher's near by you could always stagger in for breakfast before journeying back to NDSU!

4- The Cinema Lounge The original one was first located in the old Bud's Disco Roller Rink and then later moved to the Moorhead Center Mall. 99 cents to see the movie and the mixed drinks came by the pitcher! What a great setup.......why is it gone....:banghead:

5- Ralph's Coner Bar What other bar had a "Social Club"! Ralph's was just a damn great place to drink beer.

[EagleBison]

Yea they had great bands too. But the Northern buffet is ok on Fridays? Sunset Lounge you to have bands back in the day also.

The Sunset was the place to see bands back in the early 1980's. One they tried to compete with the 2-1, 3-1 etc, so they had an all you could drink night for a set price $5 or $10 or something like that. They only had it once. I think Britania was the band that night, and every table had piles of drinks on top, and piles of broken bottles underneath. People were ordering six-packs and walking out the door with them. One crazy evening.

[EagleBison]

Lamplight in south Moorhead and Zodiac in south Moorhead. Back when the drinking age was 18. My oh My....

Zodiac had some big names, like George Thorogood, Molly Hatchett showed up for a couple sets the night before their BSA Concert etc. Too bad the owner was involved in a hugh drug bust.

[Da Bison]

The original Mick's Office.

Draws were $.50.
Usually a good mix of NDSU & MSU.
Best friend managed it on weekends
I had to buy the first beer and refills were free.
Then the Metrodome $.05 tax kicked in and my budget had to increase by %10.
I think back to those days drinking for a weekend on $1.10. Left some money for burgers on Saturday.

[sambini]

Here are WYO's top 5 - (Thank god Minnesota let us drink at 18)

1-The Trader and Trapper Who can forget Whopper night at the T. I still have my whopper glass!!

2- The Eastgate You gotta love anyplace that had 3 for 1 on bar pours and on Friday to boot. If I remember right 3fers ended at 6pm. You would go outside, be drunk as hell.....and it would still be daylight. Right before 3fers ended for the evening, we would each order 3 drinks and then have a whole table full of beverages to last another couple hours. And how about that lighted dance floor. A meat market extrodinaire!!!

3- The Lamplighter Live bands were always great at this place by the old Sher's kitchen in Moorhead. With Sher's near by you could always stagger in for breakfast before journeying back to NDSU!

4- The Cinema Lounge The original one was first located in the old Bud's Disco Roller Rink and then later moved to the Moorhead Center Mall. 99 cents to see the movie and the mixed drinks came by the pitcher! What a great setup.......why is it gone....:banghead:

5- Ralph's Coner Bar What other bar had a "Social Club"! Ralph's was just a damn great place to drink beer.
Well done Wyominig I had forgot about Cinema Lounge+++

[4mcruenomore]

Ofcourse Stroupers
Elks when it was way up north in the basement, $1 beers on friday nights, KICK ASS!!!

[EagleBison]

The Gaslight, under the Graver Inn was a hot spot for a while.

[THEsocalledfan]

Stroupers, the original smoke-free bar. It was a great place.

[BisonBabe]

Does it still have the same entertainment?

No but I heard all about the entertainment from my uncle who use to frequent the place. A side note prior to getting married I lived in an apartment behind the Town Hall found out later it was the place that the ladies use to stay in when working at the bar.

I bartended there back in '97 before Bill sold the place and dang the tips were nice. Learned never to go drinking at a bar you bartend at unless you are prepared to get sh!t faced :D

[TransAmBison]

Lauermans 2. I remember going there with THEsocalledfan right after donating plasma. One or two beers right after donating plasma was a cheap and quick way to get the head a little foggy! :nod:

[BisonBabe]

Lauermans 2. I remember going there with THEsocalledfan right after donating plasma. One or two beers right after donating plasma was a cheap and quick way to get the head a little foggy! :nod:

Back then they still gave you cash instead of the debit card system now.

[THEsocalledfan]

Lauermans 2. I remember going there with THEsocalledfan right after donating plasma. One or two beers right after donating plasma was a cheap and quick way to get the head a little foggy! :nod:

Awe, that was a cheap buzz.....and we were both RA's at the time. Same year I nearly got fired....twice.

[TransAmBison]

Awe, that was a cheap buzz.....and we were both RA's at the time. Same year I nearly got fired....twice.
Nearly getting fired, that was almost a weekly occurence for me for 3 years! :D

[Herd Mentality]

It took long enough for someone to mention Stroupers. I always thought it got lame when it became the 21st ammendment. Also loved the fact that Rocky had a reserved parking spot out front.

Just One was also a place I hope everyone visted at least once before they closed recently.

Word on the street is that there is a new Duffy's and an English style pub opening up in W Fargo over by O'Learys.

[bisonmike2]

The Winner's Circle. At the corner of main and 25th street. An OTB that wasn't a cool place to stay the entire night but my friends and I would start the night of there b/c they had $.50 taps and you could put a couple bucks down on a race or two. The also had great deals on pizza corner pizza.

[bisonmike2]

Lauermans 2. I remember going there with THEsocalledfan right after donating plasma. One or two beers right after donating plasma was a cheap and quick way to get the head a little foggy! :nod:

The duece was severely underated. I used to llive across the railroad tracks and my roomates and I would always go there on tuesday nights. Great bar that was never really busy except right after 5 you would get all the hunnies that worked at Vanity to come in after work. Niiice.

[BisManBison]

Stroupers, the original smoke-free bar. It was a great place.

I loved Stroupers, still got my "Bis Ass Mug" on my desk as shown below. What a crappy view of the Missouri River in Bismarck outside my office window huh?

[aces1180]

I loved Stroupers, still got my "Bis Ass Mug" on my desk as shown below. What a crappy view of the Missouri River in Bismarck outside my office window huh?

Haha...I still have my mug at home too...

I'm trying to figure out where you work...I assume you are looking north if your office is on the Bismarck side, so my best guess would be the new Bank of ND. Am I right?

[BisManBison]

Haha...I still have my mug at home too...

I'm trying to figure out where you work...I assume you are looking north if your office is on the Bismarck side, so my best guess would be the new Bank of ND. Am I right?

No, that view is looking south. Sorry, the picture quality is really poor cuz I used my camera on my phone. I couldn't get pictures from other camera's to load due to file size. Anyway, I'm north of the BND building in the Horizon building near BSC. The bridge you see in the background is the Expressway Bridge. Unbelievable view, but it gets hard to work Friday afternoon's during the summer when the river starts gettin busy.

[aces1180]

No, that view is looking south. Sorry, the picture quality is really poor cuz I used my phone on my camera. I couldn't get pictures from other camera's to load due to file size. Anyway, I'm north of the BND building in the Horizon building near BSC. The bridge you see in the background is the Expressway Bridge. Unbelievable view, but it gets hard to work Friday afternoon's during the summer when the river starts gettin busy.

I should have looked behind the mug for water, because it makes sense now that you are facing south...My parents have a pontoon at Marina Bay, so I can imagine how hard it is to work in the summer ;)

[1bizon1]

No one mentioned the Monte Carlo (where the Outback currently is) or the Windmill, the basement of the current bucks.
The MC had the luxorius look with the highback seats and the red crushed velvet curtains.
The Windmill had the wheel that the bartender would spin to determine your drink price, during happy hour.

[sambini]

I remember both places. +++++

[SUBISON247]

1 Bizon 1 you really didn't steal the nation. The Bisonation campaign was used for marketing in the fall of 01.

[bisonpride4ever]

lauermans was great. my brother and i used to sneak in there and drink all the time and then when we actually did turn turn 21 we had our parties there. the owners didn't mind too much since we spent alot of money there. once place that is still open but now is kinda changing to be like all the other bars, is Duffy's. It was my favorite bar of all time when i lived in fargo. good tunes and lots of high life on tap. i miss that place! i think i used to get my mail forwarded to that place.

[sambini]

First Fargo BAR I went to when I was 21 was Duffys.

[Till]

Same here sambini. And it's been a home away from home ever since.