Good Time Charley's #14 College bar
Good time charley's was ranked the #14 college bar in america by a place i've never heard of before, complex.com. No clue who they are, but still, good for chucks. Not to long ago they were almost going out of buisness, then they shut down for awhile, got a facelift, and reemerged as an awesome college bar. Oh, and feel free to skip #12, the editors must have made a mistake.
Oh, and in case you were wondering, the Big Ten demolished the SEC by a score of a lot-to-a-little.
August 24th, 2010 at 10:45 PM ^
The Big Ten has better places to socialize and consume alcohol than a part of the country made of hicks soggy with moonshine? Cool!
August 24th, 2010 at 10:50 PM ^
I didn't realize they had gone through a metamorphosis. When I was in AA (1995-2002), Charley's blew royally. Shitty food, overpriced drinks, and no atmosphere.
August 24th, 2010 at 11:15 PM ^
Totally agree. From 1999-2003, you went to Charley's if you had no other options and/or you just hated to wait in line. I know that they were redoing it some time ago, but apparently the overhaul was quite significant. Personally, I always liked the bar (name escapes me now, for some reason) that was on South U next to the Subway and sharing space with the History department's offices. Had a nice layout, rarely crowded but still a good crowd, and less of a meat-market than a place like Skeeps.
August 24th, 2010 at 11:30 PM ^
Was in A2 during same years. Always liked Mitch's. Had that dude who played acoustic guitar with dubbed in background music. He was pretty good.
August 24th, 2010 at 11:56 PM ^
I think it was in relation to someone falling and dying from the second floor railing outside the entrance.
August 25th, 2010 at 1:09 AM ^
Are you talking about Mitch's being shut down in 2004-2005ish? Or shutting down again recently after reopening on South U like 3 years ago?
August 25th, 2010 at 12:13 AM ^
Don't think I've ever seen the guy play, but I remember his name 10+ years later. Seems like he played there at least once a week.
August 25th, 2010 at 8:34 AM ^
I remember this guy. He had a recurring gig. He loved to play Southern Cross, but he would not play any Prince (understandably). I remember Mitch's was run by a guy named Jody, who's father in law owned the place, as I recall it. They also had a boxy bartender there who drove a BMW, and I remember thinking either this guy is a really good bartender, or he is skimming some significant cash off of Jody.
August 25th, 2010 at 8:41 AM ^
Dollar pitchers on Monday nights, can't beat that deal.
August 25th, 2010 at 1:41 AM ^
August 25th, 2010 at 6:50 AM ^
It was that way in 1987 as well. Rick's was a better place to go for entertainment. Dooley's had pitcher specials and dancing, and there was Nectarine Ballroom as well.
The only thing Charley's had was seating outside, and a pretty waitress or two.
August 25th, 2010 at 8:37 AM ^
I was always partial to the Jug concerning bars in that part of town. They used to let you drink in there until like 2:45, and they had memorable items on their menu such as the "grilled nut-roll".
August 25th, 2010 at 8:42 AM ^
If that's not literally bar nuts poured right out of the dish, rolled up in a tortilla and tossed on the griddle for a couple of minutes, I'm going to be very upset. Because that's just awesome.
August 25th, 2010 at 8:55 AM ^
That's as good a guess as any. I seem to remember asking a waitress what exactly the grilled nut roll was, and getting a look like she tought I was tripping on acid. It is a similar look to what you might get at many bars in my native UP when you ask for such exotic specialty beers as Oberon.
August 24th, 2010 at 10:51 PM ^
Jug is and always will be #1
August 24th, 2010 at 10:58 PM ^
I've bought so many drinks for football players at the Jug. Those were the days...
August 25th, 2010 at 5:54 AM ^
The Jug sucks. It has the worst service of all the bars on campus. I only go to the jug if there are no other options. Ashley's and Charlies blow it out of the water.
August 25th, 2010 at 8:01 AM ^
"The Jug sucks. It has the worst service of all the bars on campus. I only go to the jug if there are no other options. Ashley's and Charlies blow it out of the water."
The fact that you're even comparing the Jug to Ashley's (or, for that matter, commenting on the "service" at the Jug, as if good service is something that a reasonable patron expects and demands when at a place like the Jug) conclusively demonstrates that you do not understand the Jug, its mission, or the market that it serves. Ashley's is two properly chilled and poured measures of La Fin Du Monde in a snifter; the Jug is three lukewarm pitchers of Coors Light, throwing up in a booth, and getting a stern warning not to do it again. One isn't "better" than the other; comparing the two is a misguided and completely useless endeavor.
August 25th, 2010 at 10:33 AM ^
HOWEVA, none of that changes the fact that the service at the Brown Jug sucks balls. They've screwed up my order half the times I've been there.
August 25th, 2010 at 12:14 PM ^
I loved the Brown Jug when I was at Michigan (1993-1997), but I've heard it's become much more mainstream and generic since the Greek family who owned it sold it.
August 25th, 2010 at 4:24 PM ^
August 24th, 2010 at 10:54 PM ^
CRB
Charley's Rick's Backroom
August 24th, 2010 at 11:03 PM ^
The bars at LSU are the worst I've ever seen in all the places I've been. Baton Rouge is probably the most awful college town as well.
August 24th, 2010 at 11:07 PM ^
I was amazed at how small their little "district" was down there. Very few (and generally mediocre) choices... lots of skanky parts to that town, too.
August 25th, 2010 at 1:35 AM ^
the tailgate scene for LSU games is just flat out awesome. Think the golf course except all over their campus, and all day long (since the majority of their games are played at night).
How is Charley's a better college bar than Rick's? Man, a lot has changed in 6 years.
Also -- 6 years. Dang it.
August 24th, 2010 at 11:06 PM ^
The Backer in South Bend is number 19. I've been there a bunch of times, and I couldn't disagree more without starting a small fire. It is hot, the floor is sticky, the drinks are expensive, and it smells like Gary, IN (which is conveniently just a few miles upwind).
Think Ricks, if Ricks just stopped caring about its appearance and quit showering in the morning.
August 24th, 2010 at 11:07 PM ^
Wednesday night is trivia night!
August 24th, 2010 at 11:29 PM ^
My roommates were the one's who started trivia nights. I've since graduated and moved away from AA but I'm pretty sure they're still involved with Charlies and BTB.
August 25th, 2010 at 12:07 AM ^
Your roommates are cool
August 25th, 2010 at 11:11 AM ^
August 24th, 2010 at 11:09 PM ^
....Skeeps!!!?!?!?
Where did they rank?
LOL
August 24th, 2010 at 11:19 PM ^
Good for Charley's, but I can't give this list any credibility when they rank "The Keg" in Evanston, an infamous underage bar that is just terrible, #9.
August 25th, 2010 at 1:25 AM ^
I've been to The Keg before. MAN that place was terrible.
August 24th, 2010 at 11:25 PM ^
I have nothing but the fondest memories of Charley's from my time spent in Ann Arbor (2005-2009 although I didn't start frequenting the bars until 2007).
Not too take anything away from the Jug because I had a lot of good times there too, but Charley's was definitely the place for me. I really enjoyed their happy hour specials ($3 domestic pitchers), food (pepperoni sticks and chicken wrapito), and drink options ($10 fish bowls).
And I also really liked the atmosphere, with ample space and the patio out back.
I'm coming back to A2 for the Iowa game and fully intend on hitting up GTC's at least once.
August 25th, 2010 at 9:59 AM ^
Honest Mom, I didn't start frequenting Charley's until 2007 ..... ;-)
August 24th, 2010 at 11:30 PM ^
I don't know how many fellow Wolverines have spent time down at UGA, but I really am shocked it didn't make this list. Wasn't UGA ranked the #1 party school this year also?
August 25th, 2010 at 12:22 AM ^
I am the only one who hates Charley's? Long lines, weak mixed drinks, standing room only most weekends, and loud as hell. No thanks, I'll take Ashley's or the Jug over that place any day.
August 25th, 2010 at 2:15 AM ^
i don't hate it but it's definitely not one of my favorites.
ashley's is the best in ann arbor for sure. not really, a go and watch the game kind of place, but an awesome place to hang out with friends and get drunk on good, high alcohol content beers.
August 25th, 2010 at 11:15 AM ^
August 25th, 2010 at 12:35 AM ^
but during my time in AA it rapidly became THE place to go and thus the lines were outrageous by the time I left. Get there early or you were in for a half hour wait. I wasn't a big fan of the Jug mostly because I hated smokey bars and Charlies disallowed it... however now that the ban is statewide I would probably like it more.
August 25th, 2010 at 12:37 AM ^
Dissapointed to see a Penn bar at #5. My girlfriend went there and I refuse to acknowledge that they can be better than us at anything.
Also does anyone know who this person is who speaks from authority about tens of thousands of bars?
August 25th, 2010 at 1:14 AM ^
I always liked Charley's, but I thought that it was definitely better before they remodeled it around 2007 where at least 1/3 or so of it was split off and sold off. I was probably the only one that also like Upstairs at Charley's, as nobody every went up there (don't know why they even bothered charging cover). I probably only went there a handful or so times, but always met a girl there. I think people seem to like that BTB Cantina has done with the space though it's been awhile since I've been back there.
August 25th, 2010 at 3:53 AM ^
#14 college bar?!? I can probably think of 14 college bars in the midwest alone that are better than Good Time Charley's. I mean I'm feeling the love, but that's asking for the site's credibility to be questioned. I guess I'll add that to my list of Michigan things to brag about.
August 25th, 2010 at 4:17 AM ^
I'm confused as to how they consider Church Brew Works a college bar. It's not even remotely close to either Pitt or Carnegie Mellon. It's expensive, it's never really full, and the college students who do go there are generally not there to party hard.
It's a nice place, but mostly the novelty of drinking in a church-cum-brewery. If they're picking bars within 2 miles of campus, there are far better "college" bars on Pittsburgh's Southside, in my opinion.
August 25th, 2010 at 8:25 AM ^
The smoking factor was a big reason for my affinity for Charleys over the Jug. To boot, drinks (beer anyway, I didn't ever deal with drink drinks) are a few dollars less per pitcher at Charleys. The day they picked up the draft line of PBR was a great day for me and a poor day for my academics.
Also as a former Charleys employee, I appreciate someone, however uncredible, promoting the awesomeness.
August 25th, 2010 at 9:08 AM ^
RICKS
August 25th, 2010 at 9:15 AM ^
Seconded.
August 25th, 2010 at 9:47 AM ^
The Jug has a metal trough filled with ice in a bathroom the size of a closet. And atmosphere.
Charley's does not.
Ad: Jug
August 25th, 2010 at 10:02 AM ^
They're quite a bit lenient on what they call a "college bar." The bar they give for the University of Chicago, Delilah's, is on the exact opposite side of Chicago from Hyde Park. And it makes even less sense because UofC operates a pretty awesome pub on campus that would blow most of these places out of the water...