Gentleman Jim’s Bar & Grill 2

It’s really hard to know what to do with this place. I went a lot when I was in college and in the years following graduation. I don’t visit nearly as often as then, which was nearly ten years ago, but I went last weekend and nothing has changed. You will see extremely drunk people. You will see people use a variety of illegal drugs in the open. You will see every lewd, obscene, lascivious, indecent, filthy, vile behavior that you can imagine. However, it has its charm. You can have some really cheap drinks and sit outside with a group of friends and remain quite oblivious to the antics of those around you. Also, you can meet a variety of characters here, which typically proves interesting. Not everyone who goes here engages in the aforementioned behaviors; you just tend to notice those who do a little more. Finally, there is only one beer on tap, and I’m pretty sure it’s Natural Light. They don’t really advertise what it is, but it’s good enough for a spot like this.

Dirty Jim’s… I’m not proud to give this place four stars. I don’t do it with dignity. I’m not trying to show off my alcoholism and lack of taste in the guise of attempting to be ironic. I legitimately like walking into a bar, and instantly knowing that I am in the very soul of «divey». This is where class goes to die, and if you can accept that, and enjoy people watching, then by all means, go here.

Oh, Dirty Jim’s. When I think about all the bad decisions I’ve made in the past, I’m always kinda surprised most of them didn’t begin here.
The first time I went to Dirty Jim’s was on a Wednesday night in 2002. I remember the day because the friend who took me called it «Church,» probably to avoid having to explain to his family he was spending the second holiest night of the week at a bar. I was barely two drinks down when I managed to get into a fight with a crusty, one-​toothed redneck over a pool table. And just so y’all know, he «wouldn’t have me on a bet.» I had my doubts about ever coming back, but the then-​free hot dog buffet saved the night and guaranteed my return.
On subsequent visits, I discovered Jim’s other charms, such as the ten-​second pour that came free with every styrofoam cup size 16 ounces or larger and the $ 1 Jell-​O shots. I learned the men’s restroom was always much cleaner than the women’s, and that Jim’s is one of the few bars in M’boro you shouldn’t go to alone for the purpose of actually studying (for a variety of reasons). I also used it to screen potential acquaintances: if you loved Dirty Jim’s, but hated the other (DR) Jim’s, you were my kind of person.
Last year, a bunch of us were back in Tennessee for the holidays. Being about ten years over the age limit for sporting hangovers with any degree of dignity, Dirty Jim’s was not our first choice for nostalgic hangout place – yet inexplicably, it was the only bar on Greenland open at that particular time. They still had the plastic tablecloths, fake flowers, and rolls of paper towels on each table, but we deluded ourselves into thinking things wouldn’t get out of hand. Long evening short, my husband and I spent several hours sobering up for the drive back to his parents’ house in Mt. Juliet.
I kept thinking some things never change, but then realized that five years ago, we never would have made dinner plans while halfway into drink number two at Dirty Jim’s. Once you’re in the door, your commitment has already been made. Don’t be foolish like we were.

Not my scene. If you’re into hanging out with the younger «I’m-still-in-my-early-twenties-and-getting-shitty-fall-down-drunk-is-my-major» crowd, by all means, go to Dirty Jims. I won’t see you there.

Dirty Jim’s Where trouble starts.