A coworker, Scott, and I were looking for a place to get a drink one night when we were in GRaps, and couldn't find anything open but D J's. He said to me..well, there aren't that many pick-up trucks and bikes on the lot. That's a good sign. The place did look a little scary from the outside. As we walked in, I saw their neon sign, and it had a silhouette of a girl posing in a sensuous way...I was like oh geez. I felt like holding on to my coworker's arm at that point, expecting the worst. Inside, the people definitely weren't my usual type of crowd. There's a pool tournament going on. We sat at the bar and ordered drinks. Then, we forgot about the surroundings and had fun chatting. The older couple behind the bar seemed nice and they looked like they have been running this bar a long time. We also caught the disclaimer that this place was used for a movie called 30 Minutes or Less. Never heard of it, but now we wanted to watch it. I still haven't gotten around to it. Then a guy started talking loud next to us and screaming some word to answer a scrabble game and he said a not so  nice word referring to a woman's  genitalia. The old  guy behind the bar gave him a new one. He kept on reaming him for being inappropriate. Poor guy. I'd say he was out of line, but the bartender was quite harsh on him and did not tolerate that type of behavior.
Anyway, we had fun there and we got out alive, which was good. To this day, Scott and I still make reference to DJ if we're stressed out at work and need a drink, we always say we need some DJ time... LOL. It's definitely memorable.
I love me some DJ's. Â I miss it now that I live on the other side of town. Jim, the owner and bartender is one of the coolest dudes I have ever met. Â Every time we went in there he was so happy to see us and treated us like family. Â Sure, the place looks like something out of a Rob Zombie movie, and theres always that rumor that its a gay bar, but thats all irrelevant. Â There drink are great, beer mugs always ice cold, and hospitality is #1. Â Go on friday for Karaoke night, its packed and a blast. Â Its probably my favorite dive bar in GR, if not anywhere. Â It just has this odd feel to it like your drinking in your grandpas basement with a few of his old buddies. Â Sounds weird, but comforting at the same time. Try it... you'll be hooked.
Review Source:After recently returning to the area from a multi-decade absence I stopped by out of curiosity as I had been in there in the early eighties. It hadn't changed except the crowds were gone from those days. Â
Everyone thinks I'm joking that I went there and invite them to join me - like they will be killed of something. Â I really like it there. Â I always have a good chat and the bloody mary's are the best I have had anywhere.
Prices are reasonable and it's the perfect "dive" feel.
I'm not sure why there's a space in the DJ's part of DJ's Cocktail Lounge... but... whatever, Yelp. Whatever.
DJ's Lounge is not your average bar. It looks like something you might see in a horror movie except for the fact that it's closely surrounded by a few other businesses. Its immediate area makes it look like there's nothing around it and gives it a kind of spooky vibe- especially with that neon sign pointing to the low light parking lot with hardly any cars in it.
Once inside you're treated to the fine aesthetics of a place that yearns for the late '70s/early '80s. Complete with wood paneling. You gotta love that.
What it boils down to is that DJ's Lounge is a no frills bar experience with its own weird little vibe that cannot be described. Only felt. Staff was friendly and attentive, drinks were well worth their money, and the crowd was unassuming and as welcoming as they could be by not acknowledging that anyone new was in their space. You won't have a knock out good time here but you'll have a decent enough place to just sit, drink, and hang with those you came with while people watching... and sometimes that's just good enough.
Am I going to return to DJ's Lounge? You better believe it. As strong/good as those drinks were for the price... I'm in.