By Jared Curtis
Pickett’s Pub
Leave your attitude at the door
You might think Pickett’s Pub is someone’s house from an outside look. But you’ll discover a hunting lodge style neighborhood bar with a sign that lets you know how to act — “No Pissy Attitudes.”
“I opened in 1993 and have seen Johnston go through plenty of changes. Sixteen years later, we are still here. It’s the five-year plan that went wrong,” laughs owner Mike Pickett. “I live in Beaverdale, and I was looking for a place that was 10 minutes from my house, so this building was perfect.”
This isn’t Pickett’s first foray into the bar business. He previously owned the Woodland Lounge (15th St. and Woodland Ave.) from 1977 to 1991, so he’s been doing this for awhile. The bar closed after a hospital bought the land.
“They made me a deal I couldn’t refuse,” Pickett says.
The bar has a woodsy, hunting lodge feel with a fireplace and a deer head mounted on the wall.
“People used to call this place the dead animal bar,” he says. “People always ask me if I killed the deer, but I didn’t. It was left over from the other owners.”
The bar has four beers on tap and more than 10 in the bottle. Patrons can enjoy two pool tables, a dartboard, numerous popular bar video games and a few ticket machines. On Friday night from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., customers can sing their hearts out during karaoke.
“We have a great karaoke crowd, and everyone always has a lot of fun,” he said.
Happy Hour runs from 2 to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday and offers $2.50 bottles and wells as well as $5.50 pitchers. Although Pickett’s Pub doesn’t offer nightly drink specials, they serve a daily lunch special (Monday through Saturday) and an evening dinner special (Wednesday through Saturday) throughout the week. The bar also has a full lunch menu featuring burgers, sandwiches and appetizers.
“We have great food with reasonable prices,” he said. “Our evening specials range from 16 oz top sirloin steaks to a 12 oz. Iowa chop to $2 burgers on Friday.”
If you are looking for something to add fire to your nightlife, try the house shot — the Flaming Toilet Bowl.
“It’s a mixture of peppermint and cinnamon, so it has a sweet taste,” he said. “But it packs a punch.”
Pickett’s Pub will celebrate New Year’s Eve in style with free food, party favors and a champagne toast at midnight. If you can’t make it then, stop in and enjoy all of the games during the college football bowl season.
“We’re probably more of a Cyclone bar,” he said. “We normally get a pretty good crowd in for the games.”
Although Pickett has been in the bar business for decades, he still enjoys what he does and welcomes everyone to stop for a cheap drink or some tasty food.
“We have a great staff that takes care of our customers,” he said. “I think we are the best place in Johnston.” CV
Caption: Owner Mike Pickett pours a pitcher at Pickett’s Pub, 6014 N.W. 59th Court, Johnston. Hours are 10 to 2 a.m., Monday through Friday, 11 to 2 a.m., Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. on Sunday. 270-9806.
