Scooter’s 944th bar, first visited in 2011.

The weather + the economy were hitting Beale Street hard tonight. There were about 30 customers in here, all concentrated on one side of the bar. On the far opposite side, all by themselves, a band was playing that was actually rather good. We ended up sitting at a table near the stage. I felt kind of sorry for the band, I hope business picked up more later in the evening.

197 Beale Street
Memphis, TN 38103
US
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901-525-3711
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Scooter’s 945th bar, first visited in 2011.

Tonight there was the standard $5 cover, but as we were about to pay we were informed that the band had just gone on break. We decided to head next door to Mr. Handy’s instead, where a band was playing, and paid the cover there.

Once inside though we discovered the place packed — too crowded to even stand. So we used the connecting door and headed back over to Rum Boogie after all (the cover applies to both places).

Rum Boogie Cafe wasn’t near as busy as it was when we were hear last year, but it still had a decent crowd. The band finally took the stage about 20 minutes after our arrival, so we ended up staying here for a couple of rounds of drinks. We would like to have stayed longer, but the overpowering perfume of an older woman who arrived during our second round told us that it was time to move along.

182 Beale Street
Memphis, TN 38103
US
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901-528-0150
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Scooter’s 943rd bar, first visited in 2011.

I failed to notice that this club actually has 3 levels, though business was slow the night I visited so it’s likely the other floors were closed off.

The bartender was a really nice guy and very helpful, but he kept disappearing. I can’t blame him, though, there were only about 20-30 customers in the whole place. I don’t know if it was the rain, the NBA lockout, or the economy in general but there were fewer than half as many people out an about than there were last year’s Thanksgiving weekend.

152 Beale St.
Memphis, TN 38103
US
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901-544-7011
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Scooter’s 942nd bar, first visited in 2011.

There’s also a gigantic semi-covered patio outdoors, which features its own live entertainment when weather permits.

183 Beale Street
Memphis, TN 38103
US
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901-522-9596
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Scooter’s 853rd bar, first visited in 2010.

The band was awesome, and our bartender was terrific. We ended up settling in here for the remainder of the evening, the experience was so good. I filled up on a local brew, repeatedly, while Dr. Feelgood Potts played the crap out of his harmonica.

One odd thing about this place is that it has no restrooms. But that’s okay, since everything is connected you just slip through a side door to use the restroom at the place next door.

We loved this place. I will come back here each and every time I ever visit Memphis in the future.

174 Beale Street
Memphis, TN 38104
US
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(901) 528-0150

Scooter’s 852nd bar, first visited in 2010.

As we drank our beer, a guy was being arrested right outside the front window. “This looks like a crack pipe to me,” one of the officers said after removing a glass tube from the suspect’s jacket.

It was interesting me how many of the businesses are connected. This bar is directly connected to an adjacent gift shop.

153 Beale Street
Memphis, TN 38103
US
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(901) 521-0800

Scooter’s 851st bar, first visited in 2010.

We started out on the lower level where we bought drinks and a souvenir glass. There was no place to stand where we were not in the way, however, so we soon moved upstairs where we at least found a wall to stand against.

The band (whose guitarist kicked ass, by the way) played a variety of popular blues favorites.

I really enjoyed this venue and would love to come back. We stayed for a good amount of time.

143 Beale Street
Memphis, TN 38103
US
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(901) 524-5464
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Scooter’s 850th bar, first visited in 2010.

The very friendly bartender (who was heavily pushing shots) did get up on the bar and dance for one song, but that was as close as we got to the famous “Coyote Ugly experience”.

326 Beale Street
Memphis, TN 38103
US
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(901) 888-8459
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