Cityview | Central Iowa's Independent Weekly

Forecast Radar Cameras

Belly Up

April 26, 2012

New Hangar 86 brings options to Clive carousers

Hangar 86 boasts the most Three Olives flavors in the metro, a new stage for live entertainment and an aviation theme at the former G2 club.

By Amber Williams

After a few beers, they might argue over who’s Maverick and who’s Goose, but for the most part, new partners Dean Orcutt and Jonathan Stein agree that airplanes are cool. So that’s the concept behind their new bar on 86th Street, Hangar 86.

“I’m into World War II, and he’s into aviation, so it’s kind of a theme,” Orcutt said.

Although the pin-up bomber girls bring color to the freshly-painted, sky-blue walls, the new name for the old bar isn’t entirely centered around aviation. The “86” is not only a reference to the street the bar sits on, but it’s also bar jargon used when either a customer is cut off or when the bar is out of something, “so it’s a play on that,” Orcutt explained.

But it’s a bit difficult to listen to his story when you’re imagining the “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” scene from the movie “Top Gun.” With a new karaoke stage in the corner under a few soft stage lights, it’s only a matter of time before someone picks that Righteous Brothers 1964 hit single out of the book and belts it out to his lady across the room.

And ladies, don’t let the aviation theme fool you. Minus the stripper pole, loungers and the blood red paint that was used to epitomize the bar when it was Grono’s, G-Spot and G2, Hangar 86 is just as much of a bomber girl’s hole in the wall as it is a maverick’s landing pad. The new bar has a fresh atmosphere that welcomes people who like options between their belly up sessions.

For example, Three Olives Vodka is arguably one of the metro’s hottest drinks right now among patrons. Hangar’s has the largest Three Olives selection in town, with 14 currently and two more coming.

“As far as I know, there are only two flavors available in Iowa that I don’t have, and that’s Super Cola and Purple,” Orcutt said. “I’ve just always been a fan of the brand. It’s the best flavored vodka on the market, because it offers so many options as far as martinis and bombs go.”

Hangars 86 has gaming options as well, offering free pool during a generous happy hour and a new Xbox Kinect interactive video game with free bowling, boxing, golf — all the favorites that are challenging and fun for those playing and hilarious for everyone else.

“We’ve worked really hard to clean this place up and go in a different direction with it. Before it was thought of as a club, and now it has more of a bar atmosphere,” Orcutt said. “We’re just going to test the waters with what we do right now, but it’s subject to change. We’ll keep our ears open to what people want.”

As it’s set up now, Hangar 86 has the ability to transform from a quiet watering hole one moment to a karaoke talent contest the next, or from an energetic game night to a dance hall with live music — bringing back to life a third bar to complete the tripartite of 86th Street bars for Clive carousers.

“In the future, we hope to work with Duck Tails and Mickey’s Irish Pub, because 86th Street used to be a golden street back in the day,” Orcutt said. “With our three bars, we’re giving people options, so you don’t have to drive too far away to find things that are fun to do — right here.” CV