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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Finn’s Food & Spirits
(Downtown, Hannibal, MO) Scooter’s 1873rd bar, first visited in 2026. I really needed a good coffee and had been unable to find one in downtown Springfield. Hannibal was the city…
Latest Posts
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#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... -
#115: Eagles Club Room – Post 1398
Posted on August 2006 | No Comments(Creston, IA) Scooter’s 115th bar, first visited in 2006. The bar area was quite large and located on the upper level. We think this may have been a members-only place... -
#114: American Legion – Post 70
Posted on August 2006 | No Comments(Creston, IA) Scooter’s 114th bar, first visited in 2006. We munched from styrofoam cups of snack mix and I found that the restroom had the smallest trough-style urinal I had... -
#113: Montgomery Street Pub
Posted on August 2006 | No Comments(Creston, IA) Scooter’s 113th bar, first visited in 2006. A fairly small place with an L-shaped bar and a slightly rowdy crowd. One guy was particularly drunk and tossed out... -
#112: Good Time Charley’s
Posted on August 2006 | No Comments(Creston, IA) Scooter’s 112th bar, first visited in 2006. This was a fairly large place with a long bar, font and rear entrances, that was split lengthwise with the bar... -
![(Creston, IA) Scooter’s 111th bar, first visited in 2006. Nice neighborhood spot. L-shaped bar and several booths. 108 N Elm St Creston, IA 50801US [launch map] (641) 782-2615 Visit Web...](http://www.scootersbars.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/20060808_DCFC0040-115x115.jpg "Elms Club")
#111: Elms Club
Posted on August 2006 | No Comments(Creston, IA) Scooter’s 111th bar, first visited in 2006. Nice neighborhood spot. L-shaped bar and several booths. 108 N Elm St Creston, IA 50801US [launch map] (641) 782-2615 Visit Web... -
#110: TJ’s
Posted on August 2006 | No Comments(Afton, IA) Scooter’s 110th bar, first visited in 2006. After Bert’s, having a beer in what was essentially a Butler building wasn’t quite as enchanting but this was still a... -
#109: Berts Pub & Grub
Posted on August 2006 | No Comments(Afton, IA) Scooter’s 109th bar, first visited in 2006. Afton, Iowa is the former county seat of Union County, and has a nice town square to prove it. While people...
