Montrose Saloon — Restaurant in Jefferson Township

LOCAL ARTISTS BEWARE. This slimy bar may not pay you for your work!!

My friends' band was one of four bands playing one weekend. Living in the city, I had never heard of Montrose Saloon, so I was excited to maybe find a cool bar to support! I showed up right before my friends’ band was meant to start, but was turned away by a staff member at the door (“bouncer”). The “bouncer” said they could not sell any more tickets because they were "at capacity" and suggested I "try back in an hour" (exactly when my friends' band would be DONE playing). Meanwhile, from the sidewalk, you could see 4-6 tables in their garden completely empty and a handful of people scatter about - TONS of space. My friends (who showed up to the venue at the beginning of the night) said it was not even CLOSE to packed inside (and it hadn't been all night). Trying to help, one of those friends asked around to the staff inside about letting more people in and most staff shrugged it off (or repeated the same script) but one person told her the bouncer could let people in if/when people left. Meanwhile, I saw at least a dozen people leave and still the “bouncer” said he "couldn't sell more tickets until the people inside told him he could." At least 6 people besides me were also turned away over the span of 25 minutes. One of them was even told by a staff member they couldn't sell more tickets because they had "a deal with the band". Once another staff member came to relieve the “bouncer”, I was FINALLY allowed to pay $15 to come in. Seeing the inside of the bar for myself, I also felt like there was plenty of capacity; the bartenders were NOT swamped, the audio guy was able to freely walk around checking sound levels... totally open! The band after my friends had a similar crowd. After the show, we told the band members what happened and they were concerned because the deal they made with the bar was that they'd get paid a portion of the ticket sales if they got at least 25 people to show up for them. Sure enough, the bar didn’t pay the band… citing a total ticket sale number that was not even close to the correct amount of people that we know showed up for them (not to mention the other people that were turned away). So they lied about the bands ticket sales and claimed the bar was "at capacity" when it clearly wasn't.

Either this is gross negligence/incompetence on the bar/owner (not giving your staff the ability to radio each other or even, oh I dunno, use their CELL PHONES to communicate with each other), or this bar is MALICIOUSLY trying to take advantage of local artists by inviting them play then fixing the system so they have an excuse NOT to pay them. Looking into it more, this bar has a recent history of slimy business practice in not paying their artists…These musicians are not some 15-year-olds who just started playing together a month ago.. these are people whose LIVELIHOOD is performing live music. I'm warning everybody we know in the local music scene to NOT...

I’ve been here a few times to see a local band - I wouldn’t otherwise have ever known about this place or come in. While it’s a nice atmosphere and the music always sounds good, the last two visits have been pretty disappointing due to rude staff members and a lack of adherence to the music schedule/amount of music promised.

The band I went to see was advertised to play from 10p-12p and at 11:30pm one of the bartenders cut them off by aggressively motioning his hand across his neck at them from behind the bar. Their mics were then subsequently cut off as well. I also know that when the band questioned the guy about it they were met with a less than polite/professional response. I would have kept buying drinks if the music kept playing, but I closed my tab out instead.

My interactions buying drinks with 2 of the 3 bartenders working were unpleasant as well. I’m not sure what the deal was or why everyone working there was in such a foul mood, but I won’t be returning as a result. Everyone in that bar was there to see a band- this place is not in a location that gets foot traffic. Why push people out like this when they are seemingly the majority of your...

God, I wish I could go here more to hear the great bands, but it’s just so damn hot in here, whether summer or winter. Last night, the heat was on so high and the fire from outside was pumping to the inside somehow. I was getting a killer sinus headache and burning up and could only drink one beer. I would have bought 5, if I could have. I asked the bartender lady if it was Always this hot in here, and she snapped at me that she likes it warm. Like I said it sucks because i want to see the bands. The firewood they burn is odd and i can’t breathe well. I have talked to a few other people in the AP / OI area here as well who can’t tolerate it either. In summer, it’s hotter than hell inside pretty much no AC. Beer menu could be better. Try the newer local breweries instead of the same old ones. Maybe I’ll come back in May during some...