Sportsman's Lounge

it's a fun place and relax if you want to hang out

'CHEERS' REINCARNATED...

I discovered Sportsman's Lounge when I desperately needed a bottle of water.

----There's a Starbucks. Perfect, I have a gift card.

I park in front of double glass doors, one reading SPORTSMANS, the other, LOUNGE. My eyes light up and my heart starts racing.  Could this be a...(completely unexpected and delightfully dirty) dive bar?

I get out of my car and take peek inside.  A big cloud of tobacco smoke slaps me in the face as I open the door.  I immediately text my boyfriend, hands shaking in excitement, "BABY, I just found a place we need to check out!"

The following Sunday afternoon, on a whim, we decide to stop in...

Every bar stool is taken, except for two at the end.  We hesitantly swoop the remaining two.  The bartender IDs us, giving me a particularly judgmental stare-down.  When she reads I'm well over 21, she says, "I'm sorry, you just look like a baby."  That's my girl!

Noticing everyone is smoking, my boyfriend lights up an American Spirit and instantly bonds with the locals surrounding the bar.  Everyone seems like family, joking and laughing and racial slurs flying.  Flynn, the cute, round Italian, is the brunt of most of the banter.  The patrons encourage us to try some of the potluck food, which they bring in every weekend. The owner, a rough-looking broad chugging her own private liter of Diet 7 Up, buys me a shot of some raspberry liqueur.  Thanks!

Sportsman's Lounge is located in a small strip mall on the corner of Artesia and Prairie.  It is very nondescript, with just the etching on the glass doors to invite curious outsiders in.  If you're a bit daring and not an asshole, I recommend checking out this bar.

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THIS IS A 5 STAR DIVE BAR... No strangers, drinks half the cost of other bars during happy hours. You could not conconct a drink that would cost you 10 bucks.. No designer drinks but if you can explain it to the bartender you might get the STRONGEST Best Lemon Drop you ever had.. Try a Lemon Drop with Mandarin Absolute for $5.75!!!
Behind Carls Juniors on Artesia and Prarie..You will only find the name of the Sportsmans Lounge on the Door, not the markee, so just pull in and park.. Your there!
Cash only, but theres and ATM outside the building. If they dont' have some home cooking on hand, there is a pizza shop a couple doors down and a liquor store next door,for that one for the road..lol