Welcome to Johnny’s Hall of Fame – the first sports bar in Des Moines!
Welcome to Johnny’s Hall of Fame – the first sports bar in Des Moines! Back in 1962, John Ulrich and his wife, Fran, opened the Interlude Lounge Key Club in the Elliot Hotel just around the corner on 4th Street.
Six years later, the Interlude Lounge moved across the street and was renamed Johnny’s Interlude Lounge. In 1972, Johnny and Fran pioneered a new concept in the bar business and changed the name to Johnny’s Hall of Fame, creating the first sports bar in Des Moines. They began collecting and hanging sports pictures of all members in every Hall of Fame throughout the sports world.
1983, Johnny’s Hall of Fame moved to its current location at 302 Court Ave. Tragedy struck in 1989 when water damage from a fire ruined three-quarters of the 4,600 Hall of Fame photos collected by Johnny and Fran. Then the flood of 1993 almost wiped out the rest of the collection when Court Ave was under water. Throughout it all, Johnny’s persevered.
In 2006, Hubbell Realty Company approached Johnny and Fran regarding the bar/restaurant, and after serving the Des Moines metro for 44 years, they decided to enjoy the fruits of their labors and retire. Hubbell Realty brought in managing partner, Todd Millang, and in 2008 renovated the bar/restaurant to its original splendor.
Thanks for your patronage. Please let us know how we can make your next visit even better.
