This place used to be great. Quirky smokey atmosphere, visceral thrash-rock over the p/a, cheap drinks (from some of the last remaining Rainier taps left in the city), and a staff and clientele that only cared if you were there and had a drink in your hand. Plus, the kind of place that you could count on finding company any night of the week (I can remember at least a few Monday/Tuesday ""whoa's-me-binge"" closers with the place packed). But now, with the smoke gone, the place feels more like a frat-house than a hang-out. It used to be one of those places you could rely on not getting eyed up and down if you didn't want to--just be, not fend off someone trying to ""hook up."" Or listen to it. Maybe I'm just mad at the recent smoking ban (I'm not a smoker myself), but I will say this: the place has changed and not for the best. It speaks to the fact when a nearly unchanged staff in 2-3 years up and disappears in a matter of months. I'm an advocate of ""getting along"" but I don't think that goes as far as saying a bar has to cater to EVERYONE. If you can't deal with the smoke, go somewhere else--it's sad that a venue that was always open to the public feels like it's estranged it's loyal customer's by becoming more ""public accessible."" Sure, the place is still busy, the decor unchanged, Rainier taps still intact (as far as I know), but it's a far different animal. I for one, will not be frequenting anymore. The Cha Cha as I once knew it, doesn't exist. If I wanted to join a frat, I would have.....and if I wanted to see how frat guys hook up, well, there's always been Tiki Bob's.
Pros: always busy, the last of the Rainier taps
Cons: where did all the real locals go?
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