Spike Jones at Brains On Fire points to this twisted identity story from Fort Collins, CO.
The owners of the Drunken Monkey are considering changing the controversial name of their bar – and they want the community to help.
The Old Town bar, 151 S. College Ave., is named for a Kung Fu movie and decorated like a beach cabana – complete with an outdoor deck, swings hanging from the ceiling and a tree house.
The idea for the contest came from Carey Hewitt, owner of The Cupboard in Old Town, who has objected to the Drunken Monkey’s name since it opened in early October.
Hewitt, who has owned The Cupboard for 33 years, also led the opposition against the Purple Martini, a Denver-based bar that leased a space and wanted to open in Old Town. A liquor license for the bar was denied last week after two days of public testimony.
Since it opened a couple of months ago, its name has created a storm of controversy among Old Town business owners and residents who say they’re embarrassed to take visitors through downtown.
Chip Steiner, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority, thinks changing the bar’s name is a terrific idea. He thinks the Drunken Monkey is a degrading name that does nothing to help the downtown area.
“It’s very damaging to the downtown image and its reputation,” Steiner said. “It’s just a bad, bad name.”
