I truly hope that AlAndrews will re open soon. I miss going there. Alex and Andrew have a place that is very different than the vfw,eagles and even Kickers. Although all three places are fun to go too, alandrews to me had alot going for them. I hope you re open soon alex and andrew. You are missed.

Yes, they were non-smoking. Came around after the smoking ban was passed. Do you think if the 74 percent of Meeker County residents who supposedly favored banning smoking in bars actually voted with their dollars and patronized smoke free bars, that AlAndrews would still be open today? Hmmmm.

Dear Justme-

I'm gonna have to disagree with most of your comments for they are not researched and rather parochial. Smoking does have its effects on social settings. People seem to accept the fact that they may have to leave thier living rooms to smoke but the idea of leaving their seats at a local watering hole seems so foreign that it will not be accepted unless forced to. I have other thoughts on that issue but we'll need a greater forum for that debate... Alex and Andrew are not from this community and I feel as if no one here opened their arms and offered them a fair chance. All we know is where we are and have no idea on how it is where they are from. These two young men are law abiding and it seems like all they wanted to do was to bring something different to this area. That is where the problem inlays "SOMETHING NEW"!!! As a community we are so threatened by new things that we have in some sense been programmed to sabotage new businesses and ideas before they have a chance to flourish. It is sad that this community seems to have its majority in followers and not leaders. I would bet anything that if anyone went to those young men they would help at any chance. All about their business has been hear say and everyone rather believe the negatives from said number of people rather than find out for themselves. For the record JUSTME, it seems your are a prime example of the hear say concept, I was present the day of this proposed incident. It was an invitation only gathering where Alex and Andrew were GIVING away things in appreciation of the people that were frequenting their establishment. It was only when the word got out that all was free that people that had not received and invitation decided to participate. I was present when Alex did not let certain people in and he was as tactful as he could be. He was attacked verbally and he defended his decision respectfully and continued to take care of the people who took care of him and his brother and their LOYAL patrons...

Respectfully,
unsilentminority

PS How about a modem of respect for two young men leaving everything they know to be here with us in Litchdfield! I hope they don't quit on us and I know they have enough class not to speak negatively about our community to their families out east. I am proud of Litchfield and I hope we can diversify our way of thinking.

I only wish I would have gone to Al Andrews. I drove by it many times and kept saying: "I should go there" and never did. Now it is gone and I won't get the chance to see if it was a more hospitable drinking establishment than the others in this cliquey city. People here seem very fearful of any and all outsiders regardless of gender or race. The locals seem to know exactly who is and isn't the son of "joe sweatsock" from high school. I feel quite badly that Al Andrews didn't make it and I think they were a textbook case of shunned outsiders. A martini lounge would have made a more sophisticated addition to the stagnant Busch light bar scene we are offered. Has anyone heard of LIVE MUSIC from GOOD BANDS:rock,blues,jazz,funk? I'm sorry that I don't dig on "Cousin Leroy and the Fiddle Pickin' Moonshiners" or the reasonable facsimiles therof that play around here. Seriously..if I wanted to watch some 50 year old dudes stir up a ho-down I would've moved to Greenbo. There aren't any venues for ambitious rockers to play at around here without worrying like the Blues Brothers when they had to stand behind the fencing while hicks threw bottle after bottle at them. I envision a similar scenario for any band that would play original music around here that wasn't "sweet home alabama" or the music from deliverance.
And on the topic of smoking bans:
I think too many smokers are wasting their few remaining gulps of air on how they need equal treatment...well not if it means other people have to suffer too. The surgeon general has stated that no level of secondhand smoke is safe to breathe. Why is this hard for smokers to grasp? I like to drink..in moderation and with respect to the harm it causes in excess. But I don't like to wake up in the morning choking on the smoke from all the cigs I didn't even smoke the night before. Show some respect, it's not like we nonsmokers can enjoy mixed drinks without having to load our liquor cabinets or spend obscene amounts of cash. You can get away from us if you want...but it's hard to get away from smoke in an enclosed space.

Dear Kotter,

I wish I could have posted earlier but as they say "better late then never" WOW! Customer service Huh??? Let's define that in Litch terms. It's really rather simple, there is no such thing. Customer service ie reserved to the likings of whom ever is serving BEER. I totally agree with your point of view concerning music. Whether it's played out a juke box or live it needs to at least get to the 90's. Let's be realistic the old are dying and who will remain? Litchfield is growing whether it likes it or not and I wonder how it will adjust to a larger outside influence. Let's stop beating AlAndrews up because they are the micro so we must look at the macro, for those having trouble interpreting that mean lets put aside the small and think of the bigger picture. Litchfield is about complacency at the risk of ones own identity. I really feel in order to co-exist one must lose their sense of opinion. We all run the risk of getting black listed all because we happen to have a broader sense of understanding. All of this should not be a threat but sadly enough it is. If we do not conform we do not belong. Get used to it unless you're gonna do something about it.

To the smokers out there, would you be accepting of one who coughs in your face??? You might catch something huh??? I personally don't wanna catch CANCER!!! You can get over a cold but who will help me fight the plague???

You make good points Beligerent 1. Next time take time out and support that business that is taking a risk to offer the community something different. Businesses take money, time, sweat, tears and many sleepless nights and that is why most people don't have an idea of what it takes to just open the doors. Litchfield stop being so arrogant and thank the risk takers, they're only there to try and provide and do well, oh maybe that's it "do well" green!!!

My feelings is this. If this town could get past this if you grow up here you have it made attitude alex and andrew could of stood a chance. They had a really good bar. It was a blast to be in. They made you feel welcomed and even for some short on cash gave tabs. How many bars can you all say did this? even letting you pay the following day? Not too many I bet hu?
But because a few people did not like them plus the smoking ban forced on them, that is what did them in. The hypercritsy is staggering. I drive past the place which use to be alandrews and think of the fun I had. Then I see another resturuant/store is there. what do I see?

I see the same thing happening to them. They get very little business for weeks and then they get a surge and then again nothing.... Did'nt anyone learn anything? this new place serves good food. the atmosphere is fun and the people who run it have been wonderful to my two kids who came in there during the summer. the owner teaching my daughter spanish. I just can not believe this town at times. does one really have to be born and raised here their whole life to make a go here are outsiders really not that welcomed? someone tell me this is not the image being given in some spots.

I have lived in this town for over 15 yrs and I am still treated like an outsider by some people around town. I have never experienced a town so full of Cliques. I do think it has gotten better as the town has grown the last few years, but there is a long way to go!

Respect is earned,never given.Sure they were nice to people who always frequented their bar,but outside that setting they were disrespectful and walked around like they owned the town...

I must comment about "RESPECT". I believe respect comes along with common curtesy. I respect all until one has proven otherwise. Of course I believe in varying degrees of respect but one only establishes that with time. Time was not offorded to them and that's unfortunate. I've come to believe that people either disliked or really loved these people. I often wonder if their attitude was shaped by all the negative things that were being said about them. I'm feeling like to know them was to love them. We judge them for protecting themselves. I think I'm gonna choose to give them a chance because they have never done anything to me or my community. I'm going to disregard all the negatives because I personally did not experience any of it. In my book they're ok and I'm sorry they left here the way they did. I know Alex has a daughter here and I should only hope he can look past the lack of support and give us ANOTHER chance. I commend them because I don't think many people here could have done what they did in such a short amount of time. The face of Litchfield will change and I have hopes that we will take these experiences and learn from them. We shouldn't let change and growth escape us.

Thank you unsilentminority. I have seen Andrew out from time to time and said hi but it was sad hearing Alex left and I hope he comes back for good and shows this town just what it lost. My wife nor I have ever really found another place like AlAndrews. Truly sad.

Wow jollybmb remind me to consult with you on my next business venture. Wish you would have enlightened us earlier. I'm sure we all would have appreciated not wasting time on all of these "ideas" Pretty simple huh? Why don't you further educate us on your marketing expertise and explain to us simple folk as to where these guys may have gone wrong. Maybe you'll help the next investors save some money, time, effort, aggrevation etc etc...

Jollybmb,

Diatribe- a bitter,sharply abusive denunciation, attack, or criticism. Where do get that from my response to "respect"? I think that your assessment of the FACT that businesses fail is absolutely correct. It's the fact that we are trying to find some comfort in discussing some of the issues we "think" may be a factor in why it may have failed. It's rather parocial of someone to just come up with "it just happened to be a bad bad business plan for the market" Wow, brain surgeon. Now let's discuss some of the underlying reasons why don't we. I also said I respect all until proven otherwise. Bitter is not it its more like disappointed. Give us more to go on than just what you gave us. As far as a hug, ok where are you and I'll come get one:). Sarcasm and the use of big words are not necessary. Lets keep this "respectful"...

Dear jollybmb,

Thanks for the input. We'll get back to you on some other issue.

Respectfully,
unsilentminority

I had the pleasure of knowing both Alex and Andrew as my neighbors prior to them opening their Lounge and after they opened it. These two men are wonderful individuals. Alex is a very intellectual individual who had a vision of a night club for Litchfield that would not only be a great new “hip” place for the younger crowd, but also a classy place where individuals could sit down and have a glass of wine.

Alex was so happy when he got his liquor licensing and approval by the city of Litchfield. It is really a shame that there are those who wish to slander these two young men. I recall a conversation Alex and I had one night here at our home. He was talking about the adversity he felt he was facing here in this town because he is a “minority”. He said his vision was to be a role model for other minorities. He felt that this town looked at him with a stereotypical point of view. He made the comment that because he is a minority, drives a nice car, and maybe wears clothing that could at times give him what is considered a “high roller” appearance that he would be labeled as a “drug dealer”. He was nothing of the sort, he is a business man and a young one at that. He wanted to show the youth that you can make an honest living and be a minority in this State. I admired him for that and I admired him for all the adversity he faced.

These two young men are two of the nicest individuals I have come across in this town. I was saddened to see that the business failed for them, and I am sorry that maybe some people were too wrapped up in stereo typical thoughts to give them a chance. It did take one individual to walk into that lounge after hours and start an altercation to cause them to close. It happens here in this town all the time. And that was not fair that this happened to them.

Litchres-

I don't know what advertising scheme AlAndrews had but I find it funny how a bad word travels like the plague and a good word finds itself out on the curb. I would only be speculating as far as to how well thought out their marketing approach was. I can comment on the "private party" I was there and it was not after hours because that would be illegal. This happened at about 11:30 pm on the weekend. Andrew and Alex decided to personally invite some patrons to come out and have some drinks and food as a way to say thank you. They of course invited people they were familiar with and people that had been supporting their cause. It was only after the general public heard that Andrew and Alex were not charging anything that everyone decided to come and participate. It was an amazing site. First there were about 20 people there and all of a sudden there were mobs of uninvited people insisting to get in. Alex was at the door and informed everyone that they were having an appreciation night and it was by invitation only. Well, some people that may have been to the bar once or twice felt that they should have been included. Well you know where it went from there. People were rude and said nasty thing right to Alex's face. When he had enough he defended his decision and people didn't like that. I was there and I was disgusted by the behavior. I saw how Alex and Andrew dealt with their situation and they were not the aggressors... Location, place, advertising BLAH BLAH BLAH!!! No disrespect litchres, this is no attack on you. it's just irionic cause since when does Litch need major commercial advertising so that people know about BARS?

LitchRes,

Agreed. What amazes me is that people are still talking about it. Al Andrews has been non-existant for months and a new flurishing business has replaced it. Was Al Andrews a neat place, yes. Do I think that one incident(after hour party)brought this business to its demise, no. I too believe it was a combination of things including advertisment. Since when do business' need to advertise?? Any "successful" business(person) knows that marketing and advertisment are two major factors to running any business.

All these "customers" must have carpooled because there was never more than 4 or 5 cars there counting the owners. How could these so called lies have ruined their business if they had such a faithful group of customers? Pretty sure the city didnt shut them down....

Carpool it is!!

Litchres-

Please enlighten us... When you started your business there in Litch what was your business plan like? How is it that you've managed to be so successful here in Litch? When it comes to advertising/marketing what demographic did you use? I mean there are seven thousand people there so how did you maximize your potential? No offense it's just that some of the comments are so as a matter of fact when in actuality it's not. I don't have an answer but let's give some substance to these OPINIONS. Litchres you're starting to sound like jollybmb. It's like when my parents told me to do something and I asked "WHY?" and they said "cause I said so". We won't ever get to the bottom of why the bar went away so let's find comfort in examining the possibilities so that others won't make the same mistakes. Litchres you've never met Andrew or Alex so that leads me to believe that you never ventured to their place. Maybe if you took a step and actually visited you may have made two very good friend and have further supported that establishment. You see it can be twisted in so many directions. STOP CASTING STONES...

Dear all that have posted here,

I too am done with this topic. Allow me to apologize to the posters that I may have offended, my intentions were not to do so. Please keep in mind that the written word is up to interpretation. This has been entertaining and I hope that forums like these continue. It's healthy to disagree and I respect and appreciate all for their point of view. I have learned much. Much health and success to the residents of Litchfield. There is a commercial on television that I find very warm. It's the one where people see an act of kindness and it becomes contagious. I promise to lose my sense of unfair judgement. Thank you...

This will be my last post on this topic too.

when I have gone into the club they may of had 6-8 cars outside, but they were full inside. People do car pool, especially if they are going to be drinking and designate one to be their driver. I am that for my friends. I can not count how many time I had gone into the club with 6-8 cars and found it packed and hard to find a place to sit.
Hopefully the two men will not allow the stupidity of a few angry customers to keep them from starting up something else and if or when they do they can count on me as a customer. It is a shame that their business went down hill because of some customers who could not accept the phrase private party.
Any way, there is a new business. The people who own it and run it are very nice people and serve awesome food. Let's hope they do not get the shaft like alex and drew did.

I am curiouse as well if they do as well.

Scott did you know that the police was constantly harassing them? Did you? Did you even know that they put up with alot of crap from the police? No I doubt it. They probably have some incidents they could tell the investigatores on how they were treated in this city.

From what I heard from some friends the police were on them if a fight broke out on the property after hours as one fight did. It was way after closing but yet Alex and Andrew were blamed for it. The police will mark someone as a trouble maker if they do not like that person. Alex and Andrew had a fun place but because of a few customers who caused some trouble, they were labled. I think the two men could have alot to say on how they were treated.