Fat | Fat Tuesday On Mill Remodels, Revamps Menu

When Long Wong’s on Mill Avenue drew song fans to listen to vigorous bands on its stage, Fat Tuesday was there.

When McDuffy’s brought in unruly sports fans on the weekends to watch games on their 60 televisions, Fat Tuesday was there.

And when the Library Bar Grill enticed college students to look at voluptuous servers in schoolgirl outfits, Fat Tuesday was there.

Although extravagantly renouned in their day, Long Wong’s, McDuffy’s and the Library are long gone. But New Orleans-themed Fat Tuesday is still there on busy, nightlife-centric Mill Avenue. It has served its notoriously burly 190 Octane refrigerated daiquiris and Nuclear Cherries (grain-alcohol-infused cherries) to club congregation given 1991 and is the longest-running club on Mill.

The initial owners are gone, but the idea has remained the same, usually it has been not long ago overhauled. Chad Wilford, who took over 5 years ago, has worked at the Tempe club for 10 years and was a dedicated patron before that. To bring a uninformed look to the place, Wilford final October updated new furniture, LED lighting, equipment, taste and menu. In December, he stretched both patios.

“The ’90s were the most appropriate years, when Fat Tuesday was a powerhouse,” Wilford said. “Over the final decade, it’s been harder and harder, but we’ve managed to change with the times, gripping up with semi-remodels and perplexing new things.”

Fat Tuesday is segment of a Louisiana-based authorization with locations from Las Vegas to Florida to South Carolina and Philadelphia. Franchisees contingency offer the brand’s refrigerated drinks but have the liberty to change their taste and menus.

When the Great Recession strike in 2007, Wilford had to put remodeling skeleton on grip and work just to tarry in an area where businesses were shutting left and right. Things got so difficult that Wilford deliberate surrendering his important place on South Mill Avenue to high-rises.

Instead, he adapted. When Canteen Modern Tequila Bar and Robbie Fox’s Public House non-stop nearby, he saw new opportunity.

“We’re apropos this super inhibit on Mill Avenue,” Wilford said. “We’ve taken over Mill with joint events with Canteen and Robbie Fox’s, and are bringing in new customers to any other’s businesses.”

Details: Fat Tuesday, 680 S. Mill Ave., Tempe. No cover. 480-967-3917, fattuesdaytempe.com .