Dive Arizona Tapestries

Flagstaff, Arizona's The Museum Club first opened as a taxidermy shop and showcase and had evolved into a nightclub by 1936. Housed inside what was once claimed to be the world's largest log cabin, The Museum Club was a dance hall, live music venue, and rowdy cowboy bar that served generations of patrons in Flagstaff. After more than 80-years, this roadside attraction had become an icon along the historic Route 66 Highway, attracting tourists and locals alike who were drawn in by its history as well as karaoke and dime beer nights. Known by locals as "The Zoo," the venue played host to live country music and line dancing, all of which took place under the watchful eyes of wildlife mounts. most of which have been there since day one.

For decades, the Buckskin Tavern was Fredonia, Arizona's local watering hole. The nondescript building sat back on a dirt lot, and utilized a worn out '55 Apache step side as an iconic landmark. With a full bar and package liquors to go, it was a place where locals and travelers along US 89A alike could count on a cold drink on a hot day. And being just five minutes from Utah, a lot of folks crossed the border for a 'real' beer or just to get a bottle of liquor to go on Sunday, back when Utah's laws on alcohol were stricter. The tavern featured multiple pool tables as well as the longest bar in the Southwest which, if you asked the bartender nicely, they would give your drink the home run treatment, sliding it the distance to you.

The High Time Tavern opened its doors in 1935 in the small Arizona border town of Nogales, making it one of the earliest watering holes in the Arizona Territory after statehood. Aside from a full bar with an extensive tequila menu, High Time ran a full kitchen that made it a popular stop for anyone passing through between Tucson and Mexico. The tavern had live music every night on their respectably sized stage, most commonly featuring country and honky-tonk artists. When they closed up shop is unclear, but it appears that they were still hanging around in the late '80s. While they may be long gone, any business that can make a 50-year run is a success in my book.

Located in Tucson, Arizona, The Buffet Bar & Crock Pot has a fascinating name and a long, storied history beginning just after prohibition in 1934. It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but then it’s not supposed to as it's one of coolest dive bars in the country where the drinks are stiff and won't set you back much.

If you attended ASU in the 70s, 80s, or 90s, you most likely remember Minder Binder's and spent more than a few nights there knocking back a few stiff drinks and/or pitchers of beer. This eclectic bar got it's start back in the fall of '69 when Al Ehringer and Bob Scura, two pilots who loved drinking and hanging out with friends, decided that they wanted to open a bar. They were determined to create a destination for the local ASU college crowd, original architect Richard Wilken said. The restaurant was named after the main character in one of the owner's favorite book-to-movie, "Catch 22."

Hollywood Alley proudly described itself as "Arizona's only ultra-chic pissant hip dive bar" which may only make sense to those who spent any amount of time there. This Mesa, Arizona establishment spent a quart century as a live music landmark that hosted literally thousands of bands, both well-loved local acts and well known national touring bands alike. Aside from the musicians on stage and the well provisioned bar slinging drinks, Hollywood Alley was known for something else – their food. The quality of the culinary offerings was leaps and bounds above what one might expect from a dive bar music venue, but that was because the kitchen was serving up family recipes, all made by hand.

Located in Tucson, Arizona, The Buffet Bar & Crock Pot has a fascinating name and a long, storied history beginning just after prohibition in 1934. It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but then it’s not supposed to as it's one of coolest dive bars in the country where the drinks are stiff and won't set you back much.

Whether you went to college in New Brunswick, or Tucson, Arizona, odds are you knew Greasy Tony's well. From the original location in Jersey in '68 to the AZ location that opened in '78, Greasy Tony's served up consistent cheese steaks and pizza for decades until founder Tony Giorgianni died in 2008. Both locations were total dives that spoke to the kind of food they served, and that's exactly how people liked it. Whether you were there between classes for a quick bite or bombed out of your mind at 3am and in need of sustenance to stave off alcohol poisoning, Greasy Tony was there for you. This design came about with the launch of the Tucson location in 1978 and was immortalized on screen when Booger wore one in Revenge of the Nerds

Whether you went to college in New Brunswick, New Jersey, or Tucson, Arizona, odds are you knew Greasy Tony's well. From the original location in Jersey in '68 to the AZ location that opened in '78, Greasy Tony's served up consistent cheese steaks, hoagies, and pizza for decades until founder Tony Giorgianni died in 2008. Both locations were total dives that spoke to the kind of food they served, and that's exactly how people liked it. Whether you were there between classes for a quick bite or bombed out of your mind at 3am and in need of sustenance to stave off alcohol poisoning, Greasy Tony was there for you.

Greasewood Flat began life as an old bunkhouse in the middle of the sprawling DC Ranch which ranged thousands of acres of Sonoran Desert in the late 1800’s. Doc Cavalliere bought 45 acres where Greasewood sat back in 1955 to have a place to get away from the city. The property came with an old bunkhouse and café structure and in 1975, Doc fixed up the place - he built some picnic tables, added a dance floor, and opened for business. In typical old west fashion, Doc didn’t consternate on what to name the place. The area is flat and there were a lot of greasewood bushes, so Greasewood Flat it was.

The Clown's Den Nightclub was located in Phoenix in the 1970s on 24th Street and Camelback.

Timothy O'Toole's Pub was a popular Irish bar in Tempe at 1123 S. Rural Rd.