L J's Lounge

This place is literal trash. I LOVE a good dive bar, which this has the potential to be, however, it has no music, no dancing (as advertised on the sign), a one drink minimum per person as well as the AUDACITY to charge $7.00 for a canned seltzer. The only thing to do is play pool (which cost money) and get yelled at by the staff for setting a drink on the pool table or looking out at the bathroom door, which has no lock, for a friend. Only went there to wait for a table at Sugar House done the street, and I think I would’ve had a more enjoyable time standing in the cold outside the better bar.

We went in here to kill our wait time for sugar house and honestly a horrible experience. Staff was very rude and unprofessional. No locks on bathrooms and no stall doors. We tried to play pool and they forced the rest of our party to order drinks (half of our party had already ordered). Will never be back.

I love this weird little Detroit dive that hasn't changed in years. One man's trash is another man's treasure.

Great home in the wall. 1 pool table, lots of neighborhood people. Monday night comedy shows. Cool old decor.

LJ's is theeee best bar in Corktown!! You must visit Mrs. G if you come to this area, as she's the Mayor of Corktown! Newbies, enjoy the area bit make sure you stop in to see her, you won't regret it ❤

GREAT ! This place is stuck in time. Love it

Awesome Dive Bar.. Bar tender is a hoot. Leave your kids at home however.

Love the atmosphere. Great service. Gin and tonic and Tito's on the rocks

Great place. Nicest whole in the wall ever !!! Great owner. Even greater bar tender. Great regulars. Cheap drinks. Jukebox and pool table. Can't ask for anything better.

We were staying in Corktown and stopped in during a post-Tigers game pub crawl. This place is a proper dive bar. Peggy was an excellent (and informative bartender), the drinks (including orange dreamsickle Jello shots) were spot on, and the vibe of the place is just right. In an area that is facing gentrification, LJ's is old school authentic. Thanks for a fun afternoon Peggy, and we wish you guys the best.

Cheap beer, mostly just the bar area, bar stools everywhere, a semi insulting bar tender. Wait a minute,, (looks around the room). I am totally in a dive bar! Located smack down in the middle of cork town. This would be the perfect place for the crew to assemble. Or if you're waiting for a 2hr table at a trendy restaurant in the strip. Grab a drink, take a load off and chat it out. Hubby and I sat down, ordered $2 PBRs and proceeded to discuss what our night was going to be like that night. I think we did 2 rounds of that plus 2 shots of black label for $6 a pour. Just because there was a minimum if I needed to use my credit card. All them drinks and I'm not lining up at the financial aid office? I am definitely winning!! The place is really nice, I am definitely digging the vibe inside. Well lit, music isnt too too loud which is conducive to conversations. I would definitely love to come back and have some drinks here. Thank you so much for reading my review. I hope this helps with your decision making experience. Enjoy your awesome yelptastic day!

Typical dive bar. No frills, basic beers and drinks, and cash only. They have a jukebox, pool table and vending machine with chips and some other snacks. I've been to Sugarhouse and Gold Cash Gold many times and never realized that this bar existed before and is tucked away and nestled right between the two more upscale bougie bars. We just stumbled across it as we were exploring bars during the St. Patty's Day Parade. I probably wouldn't spend all night here but definitely worth stopping in during a Corktown or St. Patty's Day Pub Crawl. Cheap beer, laid back vibe, typical corner/dive bar feel.

Sugar House had a 45 minute wait, and you can't just order at the bar. So we wandered down the street and this is the first bar we came to. Divey, but I was digging it. A Ciroc on the rocks , a beer, and three Jell-O shots for $11- probably less than what I would have spent on one drink at Sugar House. Nice little spot, but don't expect anything fancy.

I stopped here while doing a little Corktown bar crawl. I seriously had never even noticed it before, and I've been to Slow's located right next door quite a few times. A group of four of us sat up at the bar. We all ordered a Miller Lite and two shots of Jim Beam. The woman working behind the counter was wiley and straight-up crazy. We were entertained by her, but like... still. It was super-weird. We didn't stay too long. Paid with a credit card and got out of there. The place is pretty weird but not in a good way. Not sure I'd recommend this one. Even as a dive bar connoisseur, LJs isn't on my list to stop in again.

I think this place adds to the character of Corktown and the city overall. It's nothing fancy just strong drinks, a good juke box, pool table and relaxed atmosphere. Everything in the city doesn't need to be craft cocktails at $15 a drink. You need a few places like this where you can get LIT for about $20. This place reminds you that at its core Detroit is a blue collar town that likes to unwind with a few drinks and good friends after a long day. I am definitely a fan.

What an interesting little place. We stopped by on a slow Tuesday evening while waiting for the start time for an event next door. The inside is fairly typical older style wood themed bar. Something fun was that they seem to have the entire collection of African King Bud mirror/paintings. I have to imagine those are quite old. The bar was quiet, but had a larger than life older lady bartender who was the loud but friendly center of the activity. Drink prices were fairly good. The men's room was fairly strange, an old old room that seems to be held up with monthly layers of paint. Normal stall, and a normal sink with a low urine sink crammed in right next to it so that you can do both at once if you feel the need. Very odd feeling. Four beers on draft, three were good quality. The drinks were mixed fairly and correctly.

Like many people, I went here with a group of friends while we were waiting for a table at Slow's. It's definitely got a divey feel to it. I don't think they have much in the way of beer selection. I ended up having a can of PBR because it was really really cheap and I wasn't planning on staying long. I don't know in which decade this place opened, but I feel like it hasn't been remodeled since. Check out the pictures and you'll see what I mean. Pay close attention to the picture I uploaded of the men's restroom. I enjoyed the proximity of the urinal to the sink. I imagine one could wash their hands as they urinated, thus saving time. This bar isn't exactly a destination, but a handy place to enjoy a couple cheap drinks while waiting for a table at Slow's. I don't really see any other reason to come here. Cash only!

My initials is the name of this lounge! How can I NOT like it? What a Coincidence? If I owned a lounge, it would look similar to this. Sort of a dive bar but still has it's charm. Down to earth, friendly bartender, friendly people and totally unpretentious. I hope L.J.'s Lounge can piggy-back off the success of Slows barbecue just a few doors down. Me & my friend Brian downed several beers and Bacardi 151s after an awesome diner at Slows barbecue just 10 seconds away on foot. L.J.'s Lounge, you ROCK!

I like this place. $1 Jell-O shots are a nice touch, drinks are well poured and the bartenders are a hoot. Cash is king although they now take credit cards for orders over $10

One of the few home in the walls left in the area. They are essential! The bartender was nice. The owner, who never said he was the owner was very hospitable. He gave up a chair and I just thought he was a nice patron.

LJ's is absolutely one of my favorite dives near downtown! The bartenders are cool. It is close to the bad ass, old school abandoned train station! I don't understand why people gotta hate on old school dive bars? The haters just don't get it! I have lived all over the US and visited many-a-fine establishment like this. This definitely ranks up there among the "must visit" ones in Detroit. There are also a bunch of rad spots nearby.

I was there bc the wait at Slows was long, obviously was not their regular customer. We got few beers and asked for a water and got a bottled water. I asked if I can get a glass of water instead, the bartender goes : "No, I am about to leave and don't have time for that" I couldn't resist laughing assuming she was joking, too bad she wasn't.....worst part was she didn't even leave for the whole time we were there.. oh well!!

Hidden gem. This place is an old town bar and I love it. Don't come if you want a fancy place.

Loved this bar. Good music playing from the box and friendly people chatting away. I had to kill an hour by myself and enjoyed the barmaid and peeps sitting at the bar. Just a good relaxing neighborhood bar.

At the end of night, I asked for 3 cups of water and I was denied. The black waitress was going to provide me the water but the white waitress told her not to provide us water. After spending $100 i your bar no matter the time, a cup of water should be given when your customers are beyond drunk. She was more concerned with counting cash than making sure her customers were safe. This was the second time in two weeks that she has done this. I'm not sure if it's a racial thing or a lack of customer service. However I won't be returning to this establishment (very racist).

I love a good dive bar, but this isn't one. For a long time it was the only option close to Slow's to have a drink and not worry about your buzzer going out of range. Drink options, from my experience, are very limited. They were either out of, or just didn't carry, anything I asked for. So vodka tonic it is. The drinks are stiff, but they aren't good. I guess it could be argued that vodka tonics simply aren't good by nature, but they don't usually leave me wishing for a bud light instead. Yeah, a bud light. You get it now. Dive or not, there's just no character to LJ's.

LJ's is always an afterthought. whether waiting for a table at slows or walking around after the corktown run, my friends and i always end up here for at least one drink. over the years the selection of those drinks has improved. first i got only a vodka tonic in a glass that would normally serve water at a cheezy diner. slowly, i've gotten better drinks and better beer. its a hole in the wall bar. sometimes it smells like mold. love, juston

"I'm Loco Joe," the grey-haired sixty-something man with the Burt-Reynolds-style mustache announced when he first walked into the bar. "You're gonna remember me!" He was right- this was more than three months ago, and I still do remember Loco Joe. He was the guy who put Madonna on the juke and hopped atop the bar to his own choreographed dance. It was still early in the afternoon. "I'm gonna be your DJ!" he announced, returning to the juke. His next selection was"Sex Machine" by James Brown. Up atop the bar again, this time he spun around and clapped his hands as he shouted, "Get on up!" The man clearly had not hit andropause yet. I've been back to LJ's a few times since but have seen neither hide nor hair of Loco Joe. It's still worth coming here, though, because Bridget has got to be one of the best bartenders in town. Not so much for her pours (I mean, she really has nothing to work with here), but for her conversation and knowledge of Detroit's underbelly. She's one of those hyper-talented people (a former professional Irish step dancer) who it wouldn't be a stretch to imagine might've been a doctor or lawyer but *chose* bartending at a dive instead. I think it's her calling. Other than that, it's really hit or miss here. LJ's serves the role of a spillover joint for Slows, so the crowds ebb and recede like the tide. On a slow night, there's always the series of Budweiser-sponsored mirrors to study. "Great Kings of Africa"... King Jaja of Obopo, Nefertiti, Shaka Zulu, etc. I forgot what all they're famous for, so I guess I'd better go back.

We love this bar. Always room for you, cheap drinks, dollar Jello Shots, Peggy is a delight. Feels like a hometown bar. No food but there is a vending machine full of goodies. TVs , pool table. This is an every weekend stop for us.

Barf. My friends and I went there for a drink while we were waiting for our table at The Sugar House. It's got a divey feel, which normally I love. But this place had a "Watch your purse" kind of divey feel. It was pretty dead when we went there, and at first the bartender walked up to our table right away, which was awesome. We all ordered cheap beers, I found it odd though that the cans they gave us weren't opened. I thought that was kind of a bartender must, but whatever. What bugged me most though, was when she was collecting our cash, she didn't bring me change. My PBR was $2 and I handed her a 5. She straight up just never came back. She than proceeded to chat with one of the obvious regulars (who was smoking inside). When it was time to leave my friend hadn't paid for her $3 beer yet, so as we were walking out I told her to use the change that she never gave me to pay for my friends beer. She gave me the snottiest look and said "I never gave you change?". I'm sorry, but no, and you are not getting a $3 tip on a $2 PBR. Also, there was no music playing. The whole experience made me feel like I was in someones basement and their little sister decided to play bartender.

Oh LJ's.. I definitely wouldn't know about this place if it wasn't for Slow's BBQ being a few doors down. One of the first times I went to Slow's my friend suggested we get away from the crowd while we wait and head a few doors down for some drinks. The host/hostess will even come and get you when your table is ready! When I think of a dive bar, this is the place that comes to mind. Think 'slightly abandoned bar in Detroit'. The bartender is always nice (usually the same guy, but sometimes a chick), and the HUGE fish in the tank above the booze is fun to look at. Bare minimums in terms of choices-- no beers on tap, few mixers, etc. But they have bottled beer (maybe a handful) and the usual vodka, rum, etc. It's not much to look at, but the dinginess is part of the ambiance. Cheap too, and cash only. But I have to say, I only come here when I am waiting on a table at Slows. But LJ's is a fun little place, and it serves its purpose. Oh-- I hear they do some karaoke, maybe on Saturday nights? I'm not sure, but I am really curious what kind of crowd it draws!

I was trying to find something I liked about this place. I guess the location. The bartender was borderline belligerent and rude. I asked for a Mille Lite and she said it was in the back and she did not feel like getting it so will Bud Light do? I knew it was going to be bad when I walked up to the bar I said "How are you tonight?" she said "Tired..and I don`t feel like being here"

I'd never been until recently, and I feel a bit bad about it. This place is about as laid back as they come. The bartender on Friday nights, Nicole, is great and super friendly. All the drinks were reasonably priced as well. Walking into this joint, I was unsure of the vibe, since the neighborhood/block is kinda in a weird zone of detroit. Thankfully everyone was cool and relaxed. Apparently they have karaoke on thursdays, so I hope to hit that before I leave the area and move elsewhere. I know the "slow's waiting room" stigma is attached to Lj's, but come down and visit once just for Lj's and you'll have a good time.

Jennifer L. has a few valid points but LJ's is likely, a favorite of the locals and a place with a following of regulars. For what it is it's a nice option to have while you're waiting for a table at Sugar House but don't come expecting to be dazzled by décor or the atmosphere. It's a just the kind of place where you can grab a beer and shot and move on to somewhere else afterwards.

Do you ever go to Slows and have to wait an hour in a crowed, tight bar area? Sorry stupid question, when does Slows have less than an hour wait? Head down the block to LJ's, a spacious dive with a poor beer selection. Inform the hostess and they will retrieve you when your table is ready. They have an Oscar tank (14" fish), a pool table, and stiff drinks. Honestly if I wasn't at Slows there would be no reason to go, but it serves a fine purpose. CASH ONLY.

If you want quality beer -- or beer on tap of any kind -- or any sort of sophisticated liquor options, this place is not for you. The block cries out for a bar to compliment Slows. This is not it. And judging by its complete lack of influence from Slows, it never will be. It is standing still from 1975, when Americans lacked any interest in quality libations (or food in general). Too bad. It's just wasted space. The owner and her son, who live above and next to LJ's, could be making money rather than conducting an empty bar while Slows overflows. Meantime somebody else will open a bar, or two, that compliments Slows and siphons its overflow crowd. Update: two real bars have since opened on the block, to compliment Slows. Good show.

This is a solid 3-star dive-bar. Because the drinks are priced at about normal, and also because the young bartender was friendly and chatty on a slow night, informing me and my friends of a little bar history, and also where to find other good bars in corktown that aren't on Michigan Ave. Plus the decor is kind of quirky in a good way. I've only heard from other reviewers below that there is live music? really? I can't imagine... it's not much bigger than a walk-in-closet. So much so that even just 7 people in the bar (3 of us non-smokers) made the place a little eye-stingingly-clouded. Over the course of two hours. I've also heard it can get rowdy and crowded, but both nights I visited, there was almost nobody there, which I liked. The exterior ALMOST looks like there's not even a bar there (though there IS the big sign hanging up out front). So, don't let appearances fool you. Walk on in, order a drink, and appreciate that you're not waiting for a table at Slows BBQ, just 20 feet to the West.

Nice little reasonably priced bar on same block as Slow's and SugarHouse. Well worth a stop if you're in Corktown. Plus you can learn about the Budweiser Kings of Africa.

Ohhh, LJ's... How do I love thee? Let me count the ways... Why only three stars? Because it's a hole. A total dump, and I love it. It shouldn't get "stars." You're the best little dive bar in the hood.

Traveled through Detroit for work and had a great time here. Good crowd of local Detroiters. It's a solid dive bar with nothing but the necessities. Also, I witnessed a Ridley Scott-worthy battle between their in their fish tank.

Nice, clean dive bar. One of the few holdouts in the gentrification of this stretch of Michigan Avenue. Stop in and have a few cheap domestics during your 90-minute wait for a table at Slow's (you damn hipsters).

Let's see, it's near Slow's, it is uninviting by virtue of its almost vacant appearance, and once inside it is smokey and done in the classic 1975 dive style. Oh, and they have 2 buck PBR in a can. Need one say more? Hit it before or after Slow's, or while waiting for a table at Slow's. The kind hostesses at Slow's will come get you.

Lj's made a great place to stop in and have a drink, no crowds, Slows looked busy, so LJ's it was. Nice bartender (chick), cool fish (oscar), and a vending machine with pork rinds. A great place to rest after trying to get in the Michigan Central station in 24 degree weather, as we did.

Bartender was beyond rude, sitting and smoking at the bar most of the night. Then she closed at 10:30 on Thursday night because "she's not making enough money", despite the fact that there were at least 20 people ordering drinks and having fun during the Tigers playoff game. No one was rowdy or rude, but she just was in a foul mood and kicked everyone out at the 8th inning of playoff game. Every other bar on the block is better than LJs, or there are good dive bar spots nearby. This place hopefully will change ownership soon.

Oh the mother/daughter tag team duo behind the bar (at least that's what I portray them to be). EVERY time I have been here I never get served by the mother. It's like she looks right through me. She can be quite nasty and the snarl on her face doesn't make her anymore pleasant. This is always my pre and after party spot for the Corktown Race/Parade just out of convenience and location. I might have to re-think otherwise now.

The cool kids in town will tell you this is a great place to hang out, but it's really nothing more than your typical dive bar. And it's fine for that. But it's when LJ's puts on a show that the place sucks. It's far too cramped and crowded, smoky and loud and narrow and sight-line-less to host rock shows. Again, this bar doesn't suck. If you're scrapping your pennies together to buy booze, it's a fine place to get a PBR.

Still stands the test of time even with the heavy hitting Slows and Sugar House nearby.

The owner's are working hard trying to "get up to the times". They have brought in all kinds of good beer, even carrying Framboise Lambic; ghettoblaster; Murphys; they have all kinds of good vodka and they have put in a new floor and did some updates to the women's restroom. I have had a great time each time that I have been in this place. Sue the bartender is the best. This bar is cash only

Besides being Slows waiting room (of course this is misleading because the yelpholes at Slows will give your table away before you can get make it back to Slows, after embarrassing you with their TGI Friday beep-flasher-coaster going off and verifying to you that yes, as if there was any doubt, you are in fact a tool, and can barely slam your beer), LJ's is also a stand alone bar on the very same strip that is infamous as being the block that Slows is in. Occasionally, you will find children watching tv here in the afternoon. This is a good. At night it is also a real lounge (not a waiting room for Slows). They don't make em like this anymore. I recommend coming here at night. Or if you are going to Slows in the evening and want a drink first.

Went there with some friends to celebrate a birthday on Thursday night. At around 10 PM the bartender announced last call. Shortly after that, she rudely hustled us out of the bar while complaining that the bar was dead, she wasn't making any money, and she wanted to go home. There were at least a dozen people in my group and we all had bought some drinks, plus there were a few other people at the bar. On top of that, game #5 in the Tigers series against the A's was on tv and we were half-way through our drinks and enjoying the game when she kicked us out. It makes me wish that I had not tipped the bartender for my drinks. I would not go back to a place with rude bartenders.

Came down from Sarasota to Ft.Myers and stopped at LJ's Lounge with my 21 year old son to see my best friends and we ended up stopping there to listen to music. My son was carded twice and the owner came up to him and started yelling that he needed to get out now! He said his FL. Drivers License was fake. We all tried to explain to owner Marc Murray, that my son (an identical twin) was 21, going on 22 but Marc only got more infuriated and told us all to get out. The irony of it all is that my friend that was there with me, was there when my son was born. We were all very upset as you can imagine because up until that point we were having a nice time, we said we would leave, we asked owner to give him back his Drivers License and he refused! He said it was fake. There was no talking to these people that surrounded us. Their way of handling a situation was by intimidation and yelling. We left and were followed thereafter. We ended up having to spend the night and go back in the morning for my son's Driver's License. It will be a cold day in Hell before I ever step foot in that dive again!!!!

Great people, great times. Very limited selection of drinks, but if you're looking for character over class, LJ's the place.