The Bier Stube has been a campus staple, serving up cheap prices and smiles since 1966. The possibility of owner Doug Millsap losing his bar to Campus Partners has made him open a new Stube off-campus.
Millsap opened his new bar located at State routes 315 and 161, called the Bier Stube North. Millsap has been the owner and proprietor for 24 years and bought the bar from the owner of the Varsity Club in 1979.
Both Stube’s are open seven days a week, and provide an atmosphere that is much like a local neighborhood bar Millsap said. He said Bier Stube means “beer hall” in German, and was named by the original owner.
Millsap said his new bar has not seen any devout regulars and said they are mostly people from the neighborhood. He said some college students, mostly from the Olentangy Commons Apartments, show up on the weekends, as well as local restaurant workers getting off work.
At both Stubes, one can eat food, enjoy beer, drink cocktails and listen to the jukebox which features an extensive list of rock ‘n’ roll hits.
“People come here for three reasons,” he said. “First they come for the jukebox, second for sports and third for the low prices.”
The Bier Stube North opened its door to the public Sept. 17. Millsap said it was opened for two reasons – it was only two minutes from his house, and because he does not know if he will be bought out by Campus Partners.
Millsap manages the Bier Stube North and spends a few nights a week at his bar on campus. He said there are about 10 bartenders who work at the Stube, mostly college students.
The idea of losing his bar on south campus is strange, Millsap said. He said he knows it is just a possibility, and Campus Partners is just trying to rejuvenate the area.
Millsap will continue to stick with his bars, and try to maintain cheap prices and a friendly atmosphere, he said.
“It’s just more laid back here,” he said. “It’s a sports bar, it has music, and it’s a friendly little pub. We are trying to be like the bar back home.”
Shawn Bernhard, a former Ohio State student, used to go to the Bier Stube in the late 1970s. Bernhard said it was his second time at the Bier Stube North, and was impressed with the jukebox and the friendly staff.
Bernhard reflected fondly on his days as a young bar-goer and said he likes the music played on the jukebox and the atmosphere.
Bernhard said the new Stube is fun, and more like a neighborhood type bar, but said he would definitely come back if he was in the area.
“The female bartenders are not too hateful looking,” he said. “Attractive bartenders are nice to see, if the bar was closer to my home I would be a regular.”
Jillian Cicione, a senior in Consumer Affairs, has been bartending at the Bier Stube for a year and a half, and has bartended at the new bar for two months.
Cicione said the biggest night for the campus bar is Thursday and Friday, and at the new bar it is Friday night. She also said both bars are very beer oriented, and they do not serve up many mixed drinks.
“I like this place because it is laid back,” she said. “It is a fun atmosphere, no one comes in here for martinis.”
