Tickles Bar Opens in Northeast Minneapolis

The Twin Cities GLBT community should be tickled that its newest bar, Tickles, opened with flair on November 14. As the name suggests, it’s a piano bar where some of the best talent anywhere will tickle the ivories on an impressive six-foot Hallett Davis grand piano. Again keying off its name, Tickles as well is a fun place to meet friends for beverages and conversation, while watching sports events on TV, or playing pool, darts, and video games.

Roy Caples and Joel Janssen are the gregarious proprietors of Tickles. Each has a quarter century of experience in the hospitality industry.

Caples says, “We would like provide a warm, inviting atmosphere to satisfy the needs of the community as a combination piano bar and sports entertainment space.”

Janssen adds, “Our target market is people looking for a great place to get together with friends, coworkers, or family, to be entertained by our specific venue. This group may include people who don’t traditionally go out to bars that much.”

A short distance from Downtown Minneapolis, Tickles—just off Central Avenue in Northeast Minneapolis—is in the building formerly occupied by Margarita Bella, a bar popular with the GLBT Latin community. But Caples and Janssen have remodeled the space completely from floor to ceiling into an attractive and comfortable ambience.

Caples explains, “Many people in our community have discussed locations outside of the Downtown area, with more mature entertainment, with free parking and easy access—not to impugn Downtown or any other entertainment venue. As Lavender recently acknowledged, Northeast Minneapolis is developing, and in an openly gay neighborhood fashion.”

Helping the GLBT community will be one of the hallmarks of Tickles, as in Janssen’s words, “We have been involved in community support individually for more than 20 years. We are evaluating charitable opportunities within the gay community. We will be sponsoring softball, pool, and bowling leagues.”

Tickles, open daily from 4 PM to 1 AM, serves a full menu of tasty basic food such as burgers and fries. Sure to be a hit is the weekend brunch from 10 AM to 2 PM.

Caples sums ups what to expect when visiting Tickles this way: “We are going to provide a quality venue that is inviting and without attitude. We have assembled a group of experienced employees with a very positive customer-service attitude. We want to provide our customers a clean and positive experience to build a long-term relationship.”

Tickles
1032 3rd Ave. NE, Mpls.
(612) 354-3846
www.ticklesbar.com