It wasn’t exactly Beale Street in Memphis; it wasn’t exactly Bourbon Street in New Orleans. It was High Street in Columbus.
The days when south campus was lined with bars and clubs are long gone. Even the buildings that housed them have been torn down.
They had names like Spring Break, Mr. Mustard’s, Papa Joe’s, The Travel Agency, South Heidelberg, The Spot, Coeds, Panini’s Bar and Grill, and Cornerstone. All of them have since disappeared.
Some places stayed nearby, particularly the dining and delivery establishments like Apollo’s, Cluck-U, and Ohio State Pizza and Deli, which moved to the near north or to Clintonville.
Other businesses just gave up, while some are still trying to relocate.
Some of the places headed to other parts of town. Skully’s moved south to the Short North, taking with it many of its loyal patrons.
Alumnus Quinton Quast, who attended OSU from 1993-2000, remembers the days when he was able to walk to his favorite bar, Coeds, with his friends.
The lack of bars causes everyone to get drunk and drive to other parts of town like the Short North, Arena District or German Village, he said.
Quast was not in favor of the strip being torn down and being redeveloped.
“The ‘Eastonization’ of campus just encourages kids to get credit cards too fast,” he said.
The loss of businesses that dispense alcohol has been a heavily debated issue over the past decade – one that many students and business owners have felt, but are coming to grips with.
Ed Garnahan, who owned The Spot Bar, said he hated to lose his bar, but said it was something that was needed.
“I would rather have seen it happen in a different way, but what will be done will be good for the area,” he said.
