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Many of us old timer in Costa Rica spent many a pleasant hour at "Tinys Tropical Sports Bar" . I have great memories of having breakfast there many mornings. His smoked pork chop and eggs were a great start to the day. RIP amigo.

From this mornings A.M. Costa Rica.

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Alex Levine

God Bless Tiny.....old school from Ft Laud.....we all await the day......time does not stand still! The grim reaper comes and unexpected times! RIP Tiny

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GG
"Last time I said no......I misunderstood the question!"

thanks for the post

here is an article from Feb, 12, 2002 on Tiny and his business....it says his was the original sports bar in San Jose.



Long-time sports bar, Tiny's, sold and closed
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

A long-time downtown fixture, Tiny’s Tropical Sports Bar, has been sold and probably will become a Chinese restaurant, said the former owner, himself a fixture in San José.

The deal was concluded over the last two weeks. Tiny’s was the original sports bar in San José and opened in 1988, said the owner. He only goes by the name Tiny and said that he is headed for Florida in the next two weeks.

Tiny blamed changes in patterns of tourism for the reduction in business that he said has taken place in the downtown. For a long time his bar had not been the scene of bustling activity it once was. Now it is closed and padlocked awaiting the new owner.

"Tourism has changed. . . new people are not drinking, and people coming to town are on a pre-paid deal," said Tiny in a telephone interview. He said he didn’t think that deterioration in the properties nearby had affected his business.

Fire destroyed the corner building to the east at Avenida 2 and Calle 11 about five years ago, and the burned out walls still stand.

The area is getting an upgrade with some new construction taking place nearby.

"The era’s done and so am I," said Tiny.



And here is the article written by Christopher Howard


Franklin “Tiny’ Phelps passed away this week after many years of battling a several illnesses. Tiny’s Tropical Bar on Central Avenue was Costa Rica’s first sport’s bar and flourished during the late 1980s, and 1900s. Tiny closed his doors because he was unable to run the business due to his declining health around 2003.

The last time I saw Tiny was a few months ago when he was visiting Costa Rica from Michigan with his brother Bill. I am really fortunate to have spent a few hours with him reminising about the good old days in a very different Costa Rica.

Tiny was originally from Michigan and played football for the Detriot Lions during the 1950s. So, the name “Tiny” was misnomer since he was over six feet tall and weighed about 250 fifty pounds in his prime. He told me that at one time he worked as a bouncer for a couple of bars which was had to believe because he was such a gentle man. He lived and worked in Las Vegas for many years prior to moving to Costa Rica around 1986. Shortly after that he opened his bar in a building with a beautiful brick facade and interior on Avenida Central between Calle 9 and Calle 11. Prior to Tiny purchasing the place it was a popular Costa Rican bar and restaurant called “La Fonda” owned by Fabio Quesada and his father.

Tiny’s became the hangout for many a gringo in the downtown area. Unlike many of the bars downtown Tiny tried discouraged the working girls from hanging out there. Tiny could always be found interacting and throwing down a couple of Heineken beers with his loyal following. During football season the bar was packed on Sundays. A lot of people frequented Tiny’s because of the food and not just the drink. Doña Carmen ran the kitchen like a battleship and always mingled with the customers.

Over the years I made a lot of really good friends at Tiny’s and shall always cherish the memories of the good times there. One of my fondest memorizes was right after I got married Tiny hosted a party for my wife and I at the bar. Fee of charge.

Christopher Howard 17 April 2011 Living in Costa Rica

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I am sad to hear about Tiny. Irish D. hit it on the head about the breakfast...yum.

Tiny was an interesting character. Those who were not around in the 1990's and early 2000 decades missed a local landmark of fairly good service and friendly atmosphere.

His a quote of ""The era’s done and so am I," said Tiny," rings so true to us who were veterans of over 30 and some with less years in CR. So many of our loved escapes from the U.S. disappeared over over the last number of decades. Especially the last decade. Times change but the memories of certain people and the culture then..... always stay in our memories.

God speed,
Circus