Now that I've graduated from Duke, I can finally write a review for Shooters haha. I can probably count on one hand the number of times I've been here, but they were always fun! Dark, dingy, cowboy?-themed with a cage and a mechanical bull- what more can you ask for? Service is reasonably fast. 10/10 would recommend for what it is lol. read more

Shooters II is a great spot for Duke students, especially Saturday nights. There's a lot of bars so you'll be able to get a drink pretty fast despite how busy it gets in there (we loved the Happy Dads) and the DJ (sometimes live band) never disappoints. read more

Shooters II - Drinks at one of the bars - Dance Clubs Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This place was terrible. Absolutely no night life on a Friday. They wrongfully kicked us out after harassing us. Will not be going back. Do not go here unless you want your night ruined. read more

Love the bull ride. Hate the crowd. I had so much fun riding the bull but I didn't enjoy the company of the people or staff at the bar. Just not my kind of crowd. read more

my friends and I love heading to shooters for good vibes, music, dancing, and especially to enjoy the happy dad seltzers. read more

Shooters II - Game of pong with happy dads - Dance Clubs Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Me and my homegirl went as a last minute girls night out on Friday. We got there kinda early like 10, and sadly it was dead the dj was just playing typical white college music like Sabrina so if you're a college kid this is your place it's a cool place! But if you're looking for place as a 25+ maybe go somewhere else haha but it's our fault we hadn't gone out in a minute and went years ago and the vibe has changed the bartender were fun though!!! Loved her!! read more

My first time here and it's 20$ per person if ur not a student place doesn't get hype til later ; the music is fine i like the throwbacks , definitely would be a once in a while kind of thing I'm a broke college student not from Duke though Lol; dj looks very bored? read more

Shooters II - Bored dj - Dance Clubs Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I know I really shouldn't be expecting a lot for a bar/club thats specifically targeting college students, but I must admit that I found this place underwhelming. The highlights of this place...like most other yelpers had mentioned, were the mechanical bull and the elevated cage. There are beer pong tables on the side and the dance floor is relatively open, that's it. The music was crap and the DJ (if any) didn't have any intent to hype up the crowd. Songs just went by in prearranged playlists. The alcohol served there isn't too pricy, but nothing fancy either. This might be the place if you are/want to meet some college students. read more

Great place to workout, particularly enjoyed dead hanging from the pull up bar cage. I'm pretty sure drinks are free here too, no lemon water tho...disappointing read more

Super fun and music on point but the only downside is it can get so packed to the point you feel like a sardine in a can. Also I'd recommend saying you don't go to any other uni other than Duke because the up charge is crazyyy read more

My son went here last night with his African American friend and his friend wasn't allowed in because he was wearing "joggers." My son, who's white, has worn joggers to the club without being stopped. What gives? Racism? What can the rationale be for not allowing joggers? read more

Not a lot of options in the area, so we roll shoots . Please hire a new DJ but fire party scene read more

Shooters II - Cage - Dance Clubs Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Shooters lit crazy movie. Ride the cow . Make sure to pre. Literally so lit crazy movie. Kim is the guy read more

Shooters II - Shooters - Dance Clubs Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Went out of our way to visit shooters only to find out we could not enter because it was college night. We drove up from Louisiana to visit with a 19year old and it was one of the only places along the trip we were looking to get in to because they are 18+. I get Duke is close but you have other people willing to pay cover and come out to have some drinks and a decent time which is unfortunate. Definitely a college bar that you must have an ID for and not worth the time for anyone else or anyone with some class. read more

I absolutely hate this place. First timing going and after getting wristbands we still had to show out IDs EVERY time we got a drink. I set a drink down at a booth when my friend and I were talking. The manager grabbed it and threw it away. A $15 drink. She claimed i had set my drink in front of a minor and that i already had my own drink and didnt need two. Is it illegal to have 2 drinks? Never in my life have I met crapper management. The same night, a girl was kicked out for sitting at the bar with someone who was 21. She did not order anything. Just talking. Strictest bar i have ever been too. Will not be returning. Came for a good time, left pissed off. read more

$5 cover if you've got a Duke ID, $10 otherwise. Drinks are cheap, but be sure to bring cash, unless you plan to spend at least $15 minimum on drinks. It gets super packed super quick -- aka it gets super hot and there are sweaty bodies everywhere. AND people on the dance floor are SUPER RUDE!! They push and shove more than any club I've been to. There's a questionable wooden staircase that leads upstairs to a place where you can be a creep and watch the crowd from above. There's also a mechanical bull that you can ride for $5. There's a narrow counter to stand/dance on, but take caution because you're prone to falling off -- in fact, one girl DID fall. There's also a cage that you can climb up to -- think stripper cage. This place wasn't as bad as I expected -- though I lowered my expectations A LOT based on others' experiences. It's supposed to be a place that you have to go to AT LEAST once - it's trashy, primarily for undergrads, and great for cheap drinks. But I definitely WON'T be coming back anytime soon. read more

Too many college kids acting like they're cool. But really good employees there especially the bar tenders.

Worse nightclub in the city.. rude owner. Horrible music. (Always same outdated songs. It's not 2016 anymore.) don't go unless you have NOTHING to do. The old man bartender also ignores all the dudes and only serves females. His hands also shake like he has Parkinson's. read more

Best place ever, rode the bull, don't remember how I got off. Had a lovely talk with the owner of this fine establishment. Really recommend (but go in 7 shots deep) read more

They need to change the music, the DJ plays terrible outdated music. The place is fun though.

I would give this place a 2 star review. I had to pay the $20 cover charge to get in of course(unless you're a duke student). Once inside the theme is very mid western. Which I understand appeals to a certain crowd. However the music is god awful. I lasted all of 45 minutes before leaving. Deciding instead to go to a club in Raleigh. That is a little more inclusive‍ I wouldn't recommend, but to each his own . read more

Girl let me tell you... so they are overcrowded as hell. Way too many people in that place and not enough security. People are arms to arms and no kind of security to help out. Underage children throw ice from their drinks to the people below and no kind of ownership. Front desk is rude on the phone and bouncers are not friendly. Do not go here if you want 21+ because they let underage people drink in the bathrooms while the doors are open and don't say anything. Way too many underage people that ruin the vibe. 10/10 don't recommend and won't be going back. Ps. Whoever threw the ice at me and my friend can definitely grow some balls and pull up lol. Don't waste your money and go here. Smh. read more

I was pretty drunk when I arrived here, as it seems most people are, so my recollection is a little hazy. However, I do recall I had a lot of fun, and met some cool people. Recollections: Mechanical bull which I WON AT because I did not get thrown off Cage...which I think some undergrads were dancing in (where are your parents?) Good music - hip hop and some early 2000s throwbacks, my favorite! Bathroom not the worst - no locks on the stalls and kinds grody but par for the course with college nightlife Bartender actually pays attention - that was great, most of the time they ignore you because they're so busy. Props to the bartenders here for keeping it together. My coat did not get stolen - 5 stars. Coats were put in piles in the seating booths. I am impressed my coat did not get stolen. Well, it wasn't a black north face, so I'd expect it not to be taken. Across the street there was a parking lot, which was convenient. read more

One of the single worst nightclubs I've been to. They play the same horribly dated, awful playlist EVERY time, purposely ignore song requests, and make sure that people have the worst time possible. If you're gonna run a nightclub, at least understand that you have to play music people want to hear; you're in the business of music and alcohol....don't fail on both. Maybe there wouldn't be such an alcohol/drug problem at shooters if people actually enjoyed going there. Last time I was there some drunk teenager almost threw up on me.. and that's just the tip of the iceberg. They get 1 star for being one of the only places in Durham for nightlife. Do better..... we all know you can.. read more

Jekyll Susan gives Shooters 1 star, Hyde Susan gives it 5 stars. Avg: 3 stars. $5 cover. Yeah, it'd be really nice if Durham had a club for people born before the fall of the Berlin Wall (hey hey, I remember that! :( oh, b/c I'm old). But us pre-Wall Fall babies only have Shooters. The music is top 40 bump 'n grind. Decent dance floor that is guaranteed to be disgustingly crowded. So set your expectations reaaaaaal low, go with a good/fun group of friends (who are good at keeping secrets), and dress light b/c it's gonna be a sweaty sauna of horny, underage bodies grinding against each other. Cocktails are overpriced & WEAKSAUCE, so I recommend doing shots (I will give the best advice to my future kids!) or getting Bud Light. Don't wear clothes that are too nice as you will get other people's sweat & drinks on it. Bring $5 cash for the bull, it's a must. The staff are actually really nice, I once lost my phone and Jekyll Susan went back on a Thursday night to discover not only had they found it, but they stored it in a safe place. Very nice of them. Also, be on the watch for guys/girls who ask you "what year are you in?" by countering with a "how old are you?". Guys be warned, you're probably gonna be scammed majorly for a ton of drinks. The girls are like vultures around the bar. Shooters reminds me of all the clubs I went to when I was in undergrad. It's actually pretty fun if you have people your own age to hang out with so everyone can relive the days when you could party until 3am and somehow make it to your 8am class the next morning feeling just dandy. *sigh* read more

Shooters... I'm slightly embarrassed to even be writing this review as this is a well known local joint in Durham for undergrads, BUT in my defense it is also a well known local joint in Durham for "older" students who still yearn for the a taste of the good ole days... The days completely void of responsibility and self-respect. So go in there with very VERY low expectations and never under any circumstances go there sober. Shooters = mechanical bull, a dancing cage, and a whole lotta cheap liquor. It's one of those spots where you walk in and immediately feel compelled to yell, "Let's do shots! Who wants to do shots?!" Not the Lemon Drop shots you'd normally do, in celebration of a co-workers birthday, just to prove to yourself, and everyone else in your business casual clad group that "you could still hang" with the best of them. No, this place brought you back to 21, when Adios' and Long Island Ice Teas were the drinks of choice, and where only one of three shots would do. Cuervo. Jager. Goldschläger. You see at Shooters its totally acceptable to lick salt from your filthy hands, knock back a shot of tequila, and then shove a lime into your mouth, a lime that was passed to you with the same hands that wiped down the bar, touched our money, and most likely other things... "It is our Mission at Shooters to provide our customers with the best in Local and Regional Entertainment. Our staff is here to make sure that when you leave our establishment, that you have had an entertainment experience in an atmosphere that is the best in the Triangle... Sincerely, The Owners and Staff" As long as you know what you're getting when you go there, Shooters can be a good time... And their mission is right about one thing - You definitely get the best in "local" entertainment... read more

I debated for hours - Who deserves my first Yelp review?! Hands down Shooters is one of the best-run establishments in the world and I am proud to award it my first review. 5 stars, at that! Where do I begin?? -Amazing atmosphere. -Amazing location. -Amazing drink specials. -Amazing customer appreciation. -Amazing price (if you are anyone of relevance you will get in for free). -Amazing music. -Innovative business culture. I would also love to take the time to thank some of my favorite humans. 1. Thank you to Kim Cates who is a truly respectable business woman. Whenever you have left your cell phone, ID, Duke Card, or car keys at the establishment she will be kind enough to collect them for you, place them in her office for safekeeping, and keep all other valuables away from loony thieves. 2. Thank you to Jerry Cates for always driving the Shooters bus to pick up those in need. Safety on the roads in #1! 3. Thank you to Bubba for operating the Bull with an amount of skill that only comes after years and years of experience. To this day I still wear my I LOVE SHOOTERS t-shirt which has been adopted as a wardrobe staple. read more

Oh, as a new transplant I was lured in here with the promise of mixing with some grad students. Little did I know what I was getting into. I'll give you 7 reasons to check out another bar. First of all it's an 18 and up club. I believe those were the places I avoided when I was 16. Secondly they charged a cover, really honey? I don't pay cover in the city, why would I in Durham? Thirdly, they checked my purse to make sure I wasn't smuggling in mini bar sized alcohol. At first I thought they were making sure I wasn't carrying a loaded weapon, but that might be legal in this state. Apparently the little kiddies who can't get served at the bar bring their own in. Um, guys, just drink at home and then go out. When we finally made it in the joint, I became distinctly aware that I had entered a cowboy themed rodeo. The old western look, complete with, fourthly, the mechanical bull. If you ever have seen the Fry's electronic store in Palo Alto, CA http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/qqMK_r84G5QxFrffmtVA1g?select=L4b1Jgki-4SGGXHpUlRzEQ you'll understand what the theme is. The creepy mannequins dressed in cowboy outfits surveying the dance floor. Yes, and hopefully by then you realize you must reach a minimal level of inebriation, which brings me to my 5th point. The female bartenders were certainly not interested in serving you if you weren't a guy, I would try the bar in the back for better service. So by this time you should realize that 6, there is cage to display your sultry moves and get cornered by, 7, an aggressive college undergrad who is clearly unaware that the SLN spoof dance move was clearly a spoof (or perhaps he was too young to even get the reference.) Now if that's not convincing enough, then you'll certainly be the type of person who would enjoy this place, so have at it! read more

Anyone who doesn't like Shooter's (II) deserves to spend their evening at the Applebees bar where they belong. No, it's not the right place for every occasion, but if you're looking for a sweaty mess of an evening you can't beat the bull, or the $3 beers, or watching some jackass of a Duke girl let herself be taken by 5 guys at once in the corner. The highlight of the Duke undergraduate experience, Shooter's is reliable and surprisingly tough on IDs. Have to love a place that will watch you throw up 2 feet from the entrance and then part the line for you to get back in. read more

Shooters loves Duke students. Shooters caters to Duke students. Duke students go to Shooters because (1) as far as I know, it is the only place in Durham to dance, unless something's going on at Casbah, which hasn't really won over a crowd yet (2) cheap drinks! (3) that's where all the Duke people will be when it's happening (usually Saturday nights) and (4) Shooters loves Duke students. As far as I can tell, the Duke students at Shooters are primarily freshmen and seniors. The freshmen are in their just-received-my-first-taste-of-freedom phase and go there frequently because it's in walking distance of East Campus. Sophomores are a little less thrilled and have found their social niches to party on West Campus. Juniors are abroad and starting to turn 21, so they venture out to new places. Seniors realize they're in their last year of lots of freedom and little responsibility, and they recognize it is the last year of their life in which is is acceptable to get drunk, go to a place like Shooters every week and dance in a cage, and they're frantically trying to make the most of it. I have no idea what it's like during the summer when Duke isn't in session, but presumably there are still some summer school students and probably more locals. So just know what you're getting into if you come here. If you want quality drinks, to hear what your companions are saying, nice bathrooms, and you don't want to be around drunk Duke students, don't come here. read more

This place was.. interesting. To review this place, I am taking out of my mind every club experience I've ever had. There is a cheap cover charge of $5 if you're over 21. If you're under 21, you must enter through the back door and pay a higher cover. Inside, you'll find a mechanical bull and a cage, if you're feeling a little crazy. Music was typical stuff you hear on the radio, plus some songs more on the country-ish side. Consider your surroundings, okay? Haha. There were a lot of nice boys who were more than willing to booze you up, so I have no idea how much the drinks go for. The lower floor gets SUPER JAM PACKED, even on slower nights (i.e. right before finals). Remember to take a breather every once in a while upstairs or outside. If you're actually on here reading reviews about this place, I wouldn't be too mindful about the ones talking about age. There are a TON of Duke grad students that go, too, as well as the men's basketball team. In the end, it's all about having fun, right? read more

I actually enjoy the place. The music could be better, the space is large, drinks are cheap, there's a bull, a cage, and side bars to dance on. My problem is with the management. Whilst I understand there are plenty of young undergrads that frequent the place, there is no need to be disrespectful to patrons. The guy that takes the cover is always miserable. The bartenders are miserable. The one upstairs, mind you I have been bartending for 8 years, didn't pour any vodka in two of our drinks and despite that I left 4 dollar tip. When I politely asked him (because I am older and probably more sober than the young bucks running around) he got an attitude with me. The bar upstairs was EMPTY mind you. After standing there about to request a refund he finally decided to put the alcohol in my vodka soda. I mean are they that BROKE? I PAID for the alcoholic beverage, what do you get by shorting me? In addition to that, if you need to pay cover bring CASH. There is NO ATM and the rude OWNER was nasty about it in that they had an ATM that broke and it was too expensive to fix. Their solution, charge people 15 bucks for cover. Yes you have to buy drinks, leave your ID at the counter, and then come back with a handwritten slip saying you paid. SMH. The efficiency of the place is miserable! Other than that I really like the atmosphere (dance floor, most of the music, and spaciousness) and cheap drinks. The bouncers and guys walking around in red shirts are generally friendly too. Another major minus is the unruly undergrads, especially the females that will literally put two hands on you and shove you out of their way. That I can handle, in efficiency in this day in age with service is a different story. Bathrooms are NASTY but that is to be expected. read more

This place is the worst. Management is rude. Playlist is trash. If you are looking for a good time do not go here

Shooters will forever remind me of my college years. This was the dirty place everyone would go to on so many weekends for so many years. As bars go, the place is what you'd expect, but maybe a bit bigger. You'll see tons of Duke kids, plenty of them dancing on the bars...or in the cage on the ceiling...or against the glass. There's an upstairs with it's own bar that's a nice place to chill if you want to get away from the crowd and people watch. Oh - I forgot to mention there's also a mechanical bull if you're adventurous. Shooters' best night, in my opinion, is Wednesday. When i went there, it was an older, smaller crowd comprised of late junior and a bunch of seniors so you really know everyone you're with. And then super cheap pitchers ($3 when I was there) and beer pong? Let's go! Shooters will forever hold a place in my heart as a Duke alum, but if you don't go to the school, I wouldn't recommend it. My only issue with it was really the lines - so avoid them at all costs! read more

Look - Shooters is the only place with a significant bar, that has a dance floor, and can hold copious numbers of people without it feeling like a crowd coming out of an N'Sync concert. The staff seem like reasonable folk; I have never had any trouble with them. They do their jobs with checking IDs and making sure people are safe as they come through their door. I get in here and always hit the dance floor right away, and there's usually a decent number of people who are willing to actually dance with me instead of just wanting to accost me with their pelvis in a dark corner. I can't give this place more than 3 stars though, because let's face it: this place is an 18+ bar/club. There is a cage and a bull right next to each other, and creepy guys trying to peer down girls' shirts from the second floor railing. And the DJ sounds like he's mixing off of his iPod, which means 2 second pauses between songs, and the same 30 songs every night. read more

Ouch, a 1-star review; I'll have to swoop in and save this place from utter abomination. I wound up here on Halloween night since I was tromping around downtown Durham with a guy (Obama, as it were) who really wanted to go dancing. Course, by the time we got there (pre-gaming and another bar later), I was entirely too tired to do any dancing. There was a cover charge and overpriced drinks. But the room is huge, with plenty of dance-floor space, and the DJ had a good mix going. They also have a mechanical bull for all you cowboys and drunk party gals out there. The second story is a balcony that overlooks the whole melee, and it makes for a nice retreat. read more

I give Shooters two stars only because I've always gotten really good service from the bartenders there. Other than that, I can't think of a lot of positives... Shooters is the kind of bar that is a little out of place in its surroundings. Physically, it's just a block from Brightleaf Square, the James Joyce, and the Federal - but they really couldn't be farther apart. The Joyce and Federal are mostly very laid-back spots to have a beer and enjoy good company; Shooters is either dead quiet or the epitome of a booze-fueled manic fit. The crowd at Shooters is usually a mix of really drunk Duke students and really drunk locals - that is, on the nights when someone actually shows up. On more than one occasion, I've been in Shooters on a weekend night when there were less than 10 people there. On the other hand, I've been when the place was so packed you could barely move. On one particular night, there were so many people packed in that people were literally undressing to cool off. It's not to say I've never had fun at Shooters. There have been a couple of visits I really enjoyed. When you're standing outside the door, you never know which Shooters you're going to walk into that night. But with the weekend cover, inflated drink prices, and stellar alternatives just around the corner, I just think it's not worth the cost to find out. read more

I went here for a grad. student event and it was pretty fun. It was my first time here and I went with three friends. We had a lot of fun. One of my students told me, "Thursday is our night. Friday is for you guys." So if you're an undergrad, don't visit on Fridays. That's the time for the old people to have fun. There is a mechanical bull. There is also plenty of parking, although this is probably true of everywhere in Durham. My worldview has been severely shaped by Los Angeles... read more

One of the few clubs that are 18+ so a bunch of UNC underclassmen flock there to party. The dance space is very big and there are some cool features like pong, elevated dance cage, and the mechanical bull. The dance space does get packed to the point that it's hard to move though on Wednesday and Saturday night. The music that is played could be better too; it's not dance music but some old well known pop songs (Party in the USA, Last Friday Night, Every Time We Touch, etc.) In addition I do wish they didn't charge UNC students 15$ for entry, that's quite pricy. read more

I have been here twice and I highly recommend that you do not come. The last time, I paid with my card because I didn't have enough cash and the woman at the front "accidentally" charged me, and reassured me that i would be refunded with no issues. The staff basically refused to refund me when i talked to them later and said that they needed all of my credit card info including the 3 digit code and the zip code....so what? So they can steal my credit card. Definitely shows what they think about who comes here and how much they care about you, so if you are looking for a fun time i recommend you look someplace else. read more