“What exactly is happening with the pub?”
Many Saint Louis University students pose this question when they pass through Busch Memorial Center’s Billiken Club and notice an empty bar.
During its five-day trial in late January the pub seemed successful, but the initial enthusiasm died down.
“Students didn’t use it and it cost us quite a bit of money to keep it open,” said Phil Lyons, director of Student Life.
Much was invested into the pub besides the bar. Pinball and electronic dart games, a disco ball and dance floor were added, in addition to mounting new televisions around the room.
Kathy Humphrey, interim vice provost of student development, explained that the goal was to “provide an atmosphere for students to get together with their friends.”
Though alcohol was available, it was not expected to be the primary attraction. Nick Fagan, who represents the Student Government Association on an advisory board working with Humphrey, said that they realize “alcohol is not the main draw, and it can’t be.”
It was never an intent to compete with the local bars, like Bullfeather’s or Laclede Street Bar and Grill.
Humphrey’s initial goal was to give students a common place to hang out. However, the idea of the pub in lower level BMC as a hangout did not catch on. Humphrey, Lyons and Fagan all agree that atmosphere had something to do with it. It is difficult to create a comfortable, cozy pub feeling in a room that usually serves as a cafeteria.
Freshman Grace McGowan likes the idea of an on-campus gathering place such as the pub. “It needs its own little place, not in the middle of the Billiken Club,” McGowan said.
Though the pub is presently closed, it is not shut down forever.
Humphrey said that the current plan is to reopen the pub for special “Pub Nights.” Though on most nights attendance at the pub was minimal or nonexistent, special events, such as the post-performance meet-and-greet with Jim Breuer, did draw crowds.
“Pub Nights” would incorporate special events possibly on a weekly basis. Humphrey and the student advisory board, which is made up of representatives from various campus organizations, have discussed ideas such as showcasing local musicians as well as having theme nights.
Bobbi Tucker, who serves on the board as a representative of SLU’s Panhellenic community, hopes that they can form some kind of weekly routine with the pub. However, she believes that “to establish something like that is tough, and it takes time.”
The first “Pub Night” is tonight, Thursday, Apr. 6. Comedian Kevin Meaney will perform. Meaney has opened for Jerry Seinfeld on Broadway, appeared on Comedy Central and had two specials on HBO. The pub will open at 9 p.m. and the show will start at 9:30 p.m.
Fully reopening the pub is not completely out of the question. Humphrey said, though, that the pub in the Billiken Club is “not what [students] want, and we need to find out what they do want.”
