Above is an ad from December 1964, that ran in the Windsor Star, featuring the new Wellington Tavern at Wellington & Elliott.
Here’s the building today via Google Streetview. Lots of nice 1960’s details survived in the brick work as well as the front entrance. Over the years from memory this place was known variously as Tune Up’s, The Zoo, The Wellington, Rise… I’m sure some other names too…
Help me out dear readers…
I remember the Wellington Tavern. In the 1970’s you could not walk from table to table with your drink, and there were no standup tables, only sit down – you had to have a server carry your drinks for you to another table in the bar if you wanted to move. I played there with a few different bands throughout the 1970’s to 1990’s.
I then became TuneUps Tavern in the early 1980’s – I recall many Monday nights at TuneUps, when we couldn’t even leave the stage in between sets because it was so packed with hundreds of people – that happened 6 nights a week at that popular spot – live music every night of the week. And Leo Dufour’s Comedy Club was also featured there weekly – Tuesday night, if I recall.
Come 1990, the name was changed to VERTIGO Nightclub – I designed the interior and the exterior (similar to the way it is today) of that nightclub for the owner, trying to leave the original facade as untouched as possible. We added the corrugated metal, and parking stops, and painted it all in black, red and galvanized silver, keeping an industrial styled theme – it ended up being a pretty popular night spot with a good sound system, and a real pro light show.
I am not sure what goes on there now, but throughout the life of most the bars at this location, they were always successful. Andrew, thanks for posting this, I will send you some pix of VERTIGO Nightclub when I can dig them up.
I remember the Wellington was a faculty hangout for the university profs. I was there as a student in the sixties when I was dating a young professor. I didn’t realize it was so new then.
I was in it again when it was Tune Ups (I think) and it’s had a couple of ressurrections as a “gay bar” in more recent years. I think I wa sat the opening of one of them.
Sure has changed from its staid old beginnings!
i know the bar but never patronized it i heard that it had a bad reputation for alot of fights and trouble
A friend of mine had ownership of the bar in the early 1980’s. It was called Mr. C’s. It didn’t last very long, if I recall correctly, less than a year.
It was a hangout for lifeguards in the mid 70s. Draft beer was 35¢ a glass.
Whereabouts is this tavern located, please ?
Annie, it is located in Windsor, Ontario, on Wellington Rd., one block south of Wyandotte Street.
After Vertigo it went to Johnny Rockets I do believe. At some point it changed to The Zoo, then The Rise, then The Wellington… Now it’s no longer a night club, and of course I can’t recall what it’s used for now. I live half a block away, but never did like that place. They had a real bad habit of pissing off the neighbors with the overly loud music, crowds of people who threw their garbage and beer bottles anywhere and everywhere. They’d park up and down the street, in which case we had nowhere to park at the house, except for the back yard. Then there was the problem with their alarm, that would go off once in a while, day or night.
Annie, the address is 800 Wellington Ave.. It’s directly next to the railroad tracks that cross east\west over Wellington and Elm streets.
I visited it during the Vertigo years, and at some point during the Zoo era. I promise Jeff that I didn’t take up a parking spot since I didn’t have a car at the time, but I know what he means about the surrounding general mayhem.
The evolution of this location in this order: The Wellington Tavern, Mr. C’s, Tuneups, Johnny Rockets, Vertigo, The Zoo… then I have no idea what happened after that. in the old days… parked cars everywhere, up and down the streets, in the alley, across the street on vacant lands…. the place was packed, and popular.
But Jeff, you must admit, although often loud, some of the bands that played there throughout the years, especially the early years, were pretty good!
I actually think the now, very popular DJ Richie Hawtin was one of the folks that cut their teeth in there as well in the early days (Vertigo)… so it was a good spot for some.
Interesting as this divey west side bar may be to some, architecturally I consider it an eyesore comperable to the current “Cheatah’s” a block away. Of much more interest historically and architecturally are some of the rapidly deteriorating buildings in the “Wellington Industrial Estates” next door. It appears at this point that the property is largely abandoned and derelick. Many good private parties were held there back in the day. It will be a shame when they condemn this property and tear down some of the few existing brick industrial buildings still left in Windsor. Please do a piece on this sight Andrew.
I meant to say Leopard’s- the mutant offspring of Cheatah’s, but I could mention any number of divey Windsor bars (strip and otherwise). What about the other Wellington Road tavern i.e. The Southwood. Somewhat of a dive, yes, but a stately old tavern with real intrinsic value and a history which includes fire, murder and ghosts.
Had some good times there. It was once known as,”Mr C’s”. The guy tried to turn it into a nightclub like the Elmwood or Top Hat. The owners at the time would wear white tux’s. Well, that format didn’t last long,it closed.
IIRC Ice T actually played there in the 90’s some time.
I was a cocktail waitress at Tune-Ups Tavern from day 1 to day close. That was a 5 year run from 1982-87. I had the most fun and such great memories. Player’s Band, Stumbling Blind and DBonk and DBoys. Lineups out the door almost everynight of the week. I still maintain a friendship with people I worked with. How ya doing Scotty H?
used to open car doors as a kid there for tips in early 70’s then became a favorite hangout in my teens-doug and al chambers opened as mr c’s after closing of wellington-saw the platters and some other recording artists there at that time-was a rough and tuumble spot with nightly parking lot fights when i was a kid-saw clarence talbot pull a knife out one night when bouncer wouldnt let him cut in long line up in early 70’s
lot of shady characters there-remember the “well”?
It seems to be Najme Flooring, now.
GINA?! Hey, you were our waitress almost every Fri. and Sat. night when my friends and I went there during those first few years of Tune-Ups. We’d always sit at a table right next to a pillar by the dance floor. I probably drove you crazy, too, as one of the slowest beer drinkers on the planet. I’m sure you’ll remember me as “Two drafts”.
Just a few weeks ago I discovered a bit of Tune-Ups history when I dropped off some stuff at Value Village. I was walking around the store and spotted some tall thin shot glasses with the Tune-Ups logo on them. Quite a surprise to see them there.
I remember you too, Gina. I worked as a runner and bartender when it was Tune-ups in 1986 until it closed as Johnny Rockets. I remember the faces of every person who worked there including the Players Band. I also remember the wonderful people who are no longer with us like Bill Pinard and others. Art and Gail always seemed to have a smile on their faces.
I remember every inch of the building too which is just a little creepy. The wrap around bar with the trap door. Joe fell down it a few times and I jumped down it about 20 times a night to get a pail of ice or cases of beer. The door had a piano hinge and wooden ramp below, so I timed it to slam behind me it I wasn’t going to send anything back up. I sometimes went downstairs just to cool off in the beer cooler. And to blow dry my long hair! Don’t tell Don or Charlie…
I hope you see this Gina. You will always be a busty brunette in a tight white top in my memories.
-AL
I was there around 1972 and drove my motorcycle onto the dance floor with the organ player Kevin Adair from the band Messiah. Was called “BIG WHEELIE”. I’m looking for pictures of that if anyone has any.