Monday, March 6, 2017

Remember Mr. Von's Alamo?

Remember Mr. Von's Alamo? Today it's the Lost Lake Lounge!

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4 comments:

  1. AnonymousAugust 20, 2023 at 1:11 PM

    Yes, I used to hang out at Mr. Vons Alamo, back in the late 80’s/90’s. I often think of what happened to most of the people that bar tendered and the regulars customers… “Tiny”, “Jesus”, Kevin and Jimmy, Rod, and the list goes on. Rich and I were Army mates, and Rich lived a block away. We hit Von’s every weekend when I came to town.

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  2. AnonymousOctober 19, 2023 at 8:43 AM

    I used to go into Von's in the late '70s. Generous drinks at moderate prices. My brother used to live a couple blocks away so I would meet him up there every couple of weeks. We had a good time. Good memories.

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  3. AnonymousJune 28, 2024 at 6:49 PM

    I worked there along with tiny Judy my name is sandy

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  4. AnonymousJuly 28, 2026 at 10:08 AM

    I worked there in the mid to late 1980's. Tiny was the morning opening bartender, and Judy was on days until Cheryl took over. The main night bartenders were Rich, Rosanne, and my personal favorite, Caroline. Rowdy, Rick "Face" and I would work day or night shifts as well.

    Rowdy, Caroline and I would "float" shifts between the Alamo and the Drift Inn, which was the other bar that Von owned at the time. The motto at the Drift Inn was "You Drift Inn, but you don't drift out." I once had to relieve a bartender who was passed out on Jose Cuervo on her shift there. She was delighted when I showed up, so that she could continue drinking on the other side of the bar while I worked.

    There was nothing like East Colfax in the 1980's.

    If I am leaving anyone out, it is due to the brain cells that I killed as a customer and while I was behind the bar there.

    I think I remember Sandy, who left an earlier comment. She may have been there when I first started going in there when I was working at the Bluebird Theater, across the street.

    The Alamo had a unique clientele. We had a great mix of bikers, Capitol Hill lobbyists, photographers, landscapers, older married couples, and even a few County Sheriffs who worked at the County Jail. Anyone was accepted, as long as they knew not to "put on airs". If they tried that, they would be quickly laughed out the door.

    The place was gritty, but the vibe was quite friendly. Everyone truly knew your name. It was such a neighborhood place that the parking lot would be almost empty, but the place would be packed when you walked in. On a weekend night, you could expect everyone seated at the horseshoe shaped bar to have their arms over each other's shoulders, swaying back and forth, and singing along to "You Never Even Called Me By My Name" at least once.,

    I enjoyed by time on both sides of the bar there, from what I can remember. I treasure the memories that I still have, despite the broken, bloody pool cues and destroyed brain cells.

    -Dave a.k.a. "Company Man"

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