Billy Joe’s is not just a movie theater, it’s an experience

By NICK POWILLS

When you park your car outside of Billy Joe’s, you know you are at a local entertainment venue. Not only does the décor make you feel like this is an Iowa landmark, but just look up at the marquee and see “Billy Joe’s” – the perfect name for an Iowa movie theater, dinner theater, bar, and an-over-4,000 song karaoke heaven.

ATMOSPHERE

You won’t find interior decorations approved by the “Queer Eye” boys at Billy Joe’s, but after a few drinks, you won’t care that you are not in one of Des Moines fanciest locations. The warm and friendly nature of the theatre, as well as the entertainment, outweighs the need for modern painted glass and neon accents.

CROWD

Sometimes you will find the place full of locals, while other times you will find Drake University’s finest fraternities and sororities filling up the venue, giving you some stories to tell after the weekend subsides. Whether patrons find themselves taking in a feature in the movie theater, or in the lounge for a night of karaoke, whomever they might be at the time, they will make your experience at Billy Joe’s will be well worth it.

ENTERTAINMENT

Each week, Billy Joe’s offers many different types of entertainment. From NTN Interactive Trivia games, to sports (including tons of NFL games) on the big screen, to karaoke nightly at 9 p.m., to WWE pay-per-views, to the great wait staff, the entertainment is endless.

To see the movies showing for this week, visit www.billyjoes.com, as the schedule changes week to week. The dinner theater is not what I would call classy, but it does the job, and offers you and your date the chance to watch a movie while dining on solid bar food.

GRUB & SPIRITS

From pizza to burgers to gyros, Billy Joe’s offers the best bar foods around. Don’t expect a steak dinner when you come in here. Expect cold beer and greasy food guaranteed to put a little more shake in your backside. But that’s not a bad thing, as that extra shake will help you perfect “Baby Got Back” when you sing it on the karaoke stage.

Prices are very cheap, so you will not need to make a stop at the ATM, unless you are planning on drinking a lot. You won’t need more than $20 for most nights.

WHY IT’S UNIQUE

There are few places that can offer you dinner, lunch, movies, karaoke, sports and a lot more all wrapped into one. Billy Joe’s can! Who said Des Moines has no entertainment? Open your eyes and make a trip to Billy Joe’s.