Welcome!
Some people collect autographs, some collect antiques, others collect stamps. My hobby is a little different, I collect bars. This site represents my collection, documenting each bar I visit.
This is not a review site, there's plenty of those already. Most posts in this bar diary are slice-of-life recaps of the half hour or so I spent having a beer. I hope you enjoy browsing through my collection!
--ScooterJA Few Random Favorites
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Strawberry Hill Brewing
(Strawberry Hill, Kansas City, KS) Scooter’s 1838th bar, first visited in 2025. After a few years of delays, this finally opened in the Fall of 2024. But since it’s only…
Latest Posts
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#136: South Federal Reserve
Posted on August 2006 | No Comments(Mason City, IA) Formerly Sallee’s Closed, but a new bar has opened in the same location. Is back to its original name: Sallee’s. Scooter’s 136th bar, first visited in 2006.... -
#135: Saddle Company
Posted on August 2006 | No Comments(Mason City, IA) Formerly Gumps OUT OF BUSINESS Close in 2007. Re-opened as Ghost Riders. That failed in 2008. Re-opened again as Cancun. That failed in 2009. Scooter’s 135th bar,... -
#134: Wok ‘N Roll
Posted on August 2006 | No Comments(Mason City, IA) Scooter’s 134th bar, first visited in 2006. The Chinese bar/restaurant with a funny name. A fairly elegant place but a pleasant spot for a drink. The bartender... -
#133: Rhythm and Brews
Posted on August 2006 | No Comments(Mason City, IA) Formerly Cousin’s Sports Bar Closed, but a new bar has opened in the same location. Now called “Toast Bar” Scooter’s 133rd bar, first visited in 2006. This... -
#132: Champions Bar & Grill
Posted on August 2006 | No Comments(Mason City, IA) Closed, but a new bar has opened in the same location. Now called “Dano’s Bar & Grill” Scooter’s 132nd bar, first visited in 2006. I remember this... -
#131: Burke’s Bar & Grill
Posted on August 2006 | No Comments(Mason City, IA) Formerly The Stoned Toad Scooter’s 131st bar, first visited in 2006. Food was weighing heavily on our minds and that picture of a burger on the front... -
#130: Kozy Korner Bar
Posted on August 2006 | No Comments(Mason City, IA) Scooter’s 130th bar, first visited in 2006. This was diagonally opposite from Mugshotz, and that’s all I can remember. 1402 N Federal Ave Mason City, IA 50401US... -
#129: Mug Shotz
Posted on August 2006 | No Comments(Mason City, IA) Formerly Route 65 Scooter’s 129th bar, first visited in 2006. This places is called Mugshotz if you go by the newer sign on the side or Route... -
#128: Willow Run Lounge
Posted on August 2006 | No Comments(Mason City, IA) Scooter’s 128th bar, first visited in 2006. We asked for a good place to eat. “Right here,” said the bartender. Well, we didn’t really want tacos, though,... -
#127: Players Sports Bar & Dance
Posted on August 2006 | No Comments(Clear Lake, IA) Closed, but a new bar has opened in the same location. Now called Rumorz. Scooter’s 127th bar, first visited in 2006. All I can really remember about... -
#126: Elly’s Lake Front Tap
Posted on August 2006 | No Comments(Clear Lake, IA) Scooter’s 126th bar, first visited in 2006. It was a warm, overcast Thursday afternoon in August as we walked around downtown Clear Lake, Iowa, enjoying cold drinks... -
#125: Ingy’s
Posted on August 2006 | No Comments(Clear Lake, IA) OUT OF BUSINESS Closed in 2007. In 2009 a place called Bikerz tried to open up but couldn’t get a liquor license. Scooter’s 125th bar, first visited... -
#124: Retlaw’s at the Lake
Posted on August 2006 | No Comments(Clear Lake, IA) Scooter’s 124th bar, first visited in 2006. We had a choice between draws for $4.50 total or a pitcher for $5.00. It was a tough call, but... -
#123: Half Moon Inn
Posted on August 2006 | No Comments(Clear Lake, IA) Scooter’s 123rd bar, first visited in 2006. This place was more of a restaurant but had a small bar towards the back. Its advertising spoke of its... -
#122: Other Place
Posted on August 2006 | No Comments(Clear Lake, IA) Scooter’s 122nd bar, first visited in 2006. This bar is a small chain with most of their locations clustered in north-central Iowa, but for some reason it... -
#121: Rookie’s
Posted on August 2006 | No Comments(Clear Lake, IA) Scooter’s 121st bar, first visited in 2006. This was a 2-sided bar on Main Street right downtown. We noticed that the lower level side of the bar... -
#120: Rookie’s
Posted on August 2006 | No Comments(Osceola, IA) Scooter’s 120th bar, first visited in 2006. Pretty good sized bar. I found out later it’s associated with an attached bowling alley that we didn’t even notice! We... -
#119: Plain Jane’s Lounge
Posted on August 2006 | No Comments(Osceola, IA) Closed, but a new bar has opened in the same location. Now called Foxy’s Scooter’s 119th bar, first visited in 2006. The bartender confirmed for us that that... -
#118: West Side Tavern
Posted on August 2006 | No Comments(Osceola, IA) Scooter’s 118th bar, first visited in 2006. Young crowd, bolted leather seats, country music, 5 ceiling fans with none of them on. I got a phone call and... -
#117: Side Tracked Again
Posted on August 2006 | No Comments(Creston, IA) Scooter’s 117th bar, first visited in 2006. Due to the extreme darkness a good picture could not be obtained either outside or inside. But this bar’s most prominent... -
#116: Twilight Zone
Posted on August 2006 | No Comments(Creston, IA) Scooter’s 116th bar, first visited in 2006. Everything about this place screamed dance club from the outside and we were a bit hesitant, but once inside we saw...
