If You Come To Memphis, This is Where We Would Party.
Raiford himself, captured by my wife.
It is really hard to describe Raiford's Hollywood to someone that has never been there. My first year here, when I didn't even want to go but was dragged, I was still at a loss for words. Nothing but 40s served, a stripper pole, light up dance floor, mirrored walls, balloons on the ceiling. It was like a dream of tacky awesomeness. I thought I was dreaming. Especially when I saw a bunch of cats I knew from the University of Kentucky. I went downtown when UK was in town for a bowl game in Memphis, was dragged to a obscure bar, and saw a bunch a cats I knew from a state away.
"What are y'all doing here?!"
"You can't come to Memphis without going to Raiford's!"
I was worried my testimony was biased so I lifted these reviews, so you know I could not possibly be making this up.
This is the best bar/club in the history of the world. No competitiion, no questions asked, hands down, the best.
I haven't been to Raiford's in a while, but this is a MUST VISIT if you ever go to Memphis. Allow me to enlighten you on it's awesomeness:
1) It's in a double-wide trailer with Christmas lights hanging all around
2) They only serve beer and only in a 40 oz bottle
3) It has a legit Saturday Night Fever dance floor with the light up squares in the back surrounded by mirrored walls and a stripper pole in the corner
4) There is a veritable pleather furniture sanctuary in the front where you can chill while drinking your 40, because there's no drinking allowed on the dance floor
5) They only play music from the 70s and 80s
I think I've covered all the bases. And I think you can see why this is the best place on Earth.
AshleeC
Beer only served by the 40? Check.
Owner/proprietor/DJ wearing a gold lame jumpsuit with an Afro and gold teeth? Check.
Firmly stated policy of "No discrimination"? Check.
Off-duty police lining the walls as security, armed to the teeth with handguns and ready to toss anyone who looks at them cross-eyed out the side door and into the parking lot? Check.
Oh, and the most important thing: A stretch limo with "Raiford's" painted on the side and flags flapping from poles attached to the hood, ready to whisk you to the nearest ATM because you have no cash and they don't take plastic? Check, check and check.
Oh yes, I have hitched a ride in the Raiford's limo to the ATM. Don't think it wasn't the greatest night of my life. If Raiford's has joined the 21st century and now accepts credit cards, I might go into a deep depression...
Sunni
"Absolutely No Discrimination"
True to the motto painted on the wall on given any weekend, you would find any number of Memphis denizens on the dance floor or on the couches:Rhodes scholars, disco kings, pimps, drag queens,sorority girls, boys from the 'hood and visiting royalty from the 'real' Hollywood.
Immediately upon entering, your sense were assaulted by the colors and lights reflecting off mirrored balls and walls. Every wall painted white with day-glo dots and hand prints.
Where else could (or would) you go at 4:00AM on a weekend and find sugar shakin' ladies in shorts and painted jeans shimmying to the funkadelic sounds of the 70s'?
A good friend that owns an upscale dress shop downtown (you know who you are) had her wedding reception there. A wonderful event that I'll never forget.
David
You should go. Better yet, we should go.
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