Tequilla Willies Was a Barge
The old entrance to the clubs... there used to be a ramp there.
We recently reported that Matrix Nightclub was shut down and it got us talking about other clubs that are no longer a part of Pittsburgh’s nightlife. Does anyone remember Tequilla Willies? It was located on Smallman Street in the Strip District, except it wasn’t actually on Smallman Street – Tequilla Willies was on a barge!
Four barges made up what was known as The Boardwalk in the Strip. The Boardwalk first opened in 1991 and closed sometime around 2008. They didn’t tear the buildings down, they simply floated them away. The barges are anchored somewhere down the river, patiently waiting for a new opportunity. According to an article in the Pittsburgh Business Times, the floating venue was going for about $6 million back in October of 2007.
The view to the right of the entrance of the floating club...
The view if you are at the entrance of Tequilla Willies, looking left.
Check out what The Boardwalk looked like on Google Maps. (copyright Google)
Tihs is a joke right? All the times I’ve been drunk in that place and I never knew we were just floating there.
Are you serious!!! So many people were dancing in that place…….including me
Imagine it started floating off the river……. it was good that never happened.
seriously wtf. how could i not know i was walking onto a boat when i get sea sick any other time I’m on a boat.
im figuring this site is geared and opperated by a younger generation of pittsburgers or colledge students who have chosen our indeed boring at times little village,,,,as for MATRIX AND WILLIES the clubs were all owned by one local fellow …we had tons of FUN FUN CLUBS here in the 80s and 90s in the north hills we had club XTC (one of the original stripmall nightclubs that were all around the county best remembered as the VIP clubs there was CONFETTIS in parkway center mall lower level (Huge azz place) there was WPNIX later known as JETZ in harmarville (actually one of the few buildings around here expressly built from the ground up as a night club closed in 2000 we had chauncys in station square and in monroeville the CLUB EUROPA (were monster golf is) this place R-0-cK-ED ON thursday night packed solid….JETZ DID ALL 80s on sat nights friday was top 40 90s THE BOARDWALK as u all know it tequilla willies was upon opening in 1990 known as DONZIS it was very upscale….find a copy of Rick Sebacks PIttsburgh Strip Show doccuments the strip district theres a brief glimpse to the inside dance area….o ya i cant forget METROPOL ,CHEMESTRY , BANNANA JOES & THE BIGGEST ROCK JUNGLE….it occupied the area of now bar-room and saddleridge had waterfalls inside live animals snakes lizzards motercylle on the bar huge dance floor….the most ELITE PLACE was HEAVEN on 6th street in the Fulton Building marble floors spiral stair case interbational beer selection VIP AREA great place to be PUTTING ON THE RITZ… my favorites were wpnix/jetz donzis and disco sat at chaunceys (knew the door guy never paid a dime in cover charge there)
SOUNDS LIKE WE HAD THE SAME INTEREST. HOW ABOUT THE RITZ IN HOWARD JOHNSONS MONROEVILLE OR HIGHTOPS WHICH WAS LATER MOVED AND NAMED CLUB EUROPA. CONFETTI WAS GREAT ON WEDNESDAYS. AND THE SPORTS GARDEN WHICH BECAME WOODSONS. THE GREENERY AT THE HOLIDAY INN GREENTREE WAS GREAT. USE TO DJ AT THE INNS. GREAT MEMORIES. DAVE
dave there were soo many places it was nuts used to hit 2 or 3 in one night ya hitops n europa were great on thursday nights go find something 2 day ,,,the places were all full to were everyone go did we get that big of a youth decline around here…..anyhow theres a great outdoor dj at bar room his dad worked or ran steel city angels dance squad some serious dance girls,,,used to see them at hitops and europa
YEA, THE DJ AT THE BAR ROOM IS DAVE. HE WAS AT TEQUILLA WILLIES. HE IS GOOD. IM A DJ TOO AND ALL GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE. THE NEXT SONG I WAS THINKING HE WAS TOO. GOOD CLUBS LAST 5 YEARS THEN THE CYCLE STARTS OVER.