Last Call at Score/Tickles

Rechristened Bar Closes Abruptly

On February 28, Score/Tickles closed abruptly, which was surprising, given that the establishment only recently rechristened itself and remodeled.

An e-mail from the bar stated, “As we all know, in the last several years, the unpredictable economy has impacted all of us, including our customers and friends. It is our deepest regret to inform you that Tickles has decided it can no longer maintain its service to the GLBT community, and its responsibility to our employees. Effective February 28, 2011, Tickles has closed its operation. We would like to thank everyone for the support you have provided for the last two-plus years, and wish you well.”

Score/Tickles is the third local GLBT bar to go under in the past four months, following on the demise of Rumours/Innuendo in Downtown St. Paul in October and Gladius in Downtown Minneapolis in December.

Owner Roy Caples and manager Joel Janssen opened Tickles in Northeast Minneapolis on November 14, 2008. They moved it to Downtown Minneapolis on December 31, 2009. In early February, they renamed it Score, emphasizing a sports-bar concept, while retaining the Tickles name for the piano lounge.