OT - The Success of Storrs Center

[epark88]

All they need is a couple bars. Nicer than Ted's and Huskies.

I went to Ted's once. Once.

I almost lost a sneaker in there because it got stuck in an old beer spill in the floor and came right off my foot. I left and never went back...

 

[HuskyHawk]

GAP and JCrew wouldn't. Purely on demographics, those places would be very nervous in that location ... though, I agree: you'd think that would do well.

I don't get why UConn doesn't have a 12,000 full 25 TV sports bar. Seems unbelievable that hasn't been put in. Go to most any other college town (Maryland, Indiana, Wisconsin, Champaign, Dinkytown (Minnesota)) and you will see at least 3.

Lawrence KS had several. UConn could use, at a minimum, a Buffalo Wild Wings. Huskies was more or less a sports bar on game night, back in my day, but LCD TVs didn't exist then.

 

[uconnell]

Is getting a license for a bar due to town opposition? Geno got a liquor license,so Call it a grille.

Speaking of sports bars how is Viper doing in Brookfield?

 

[shakes65]

Try comparing campus now to 1965. Then it was a dry town and we had to go to The Cove Rest in Coventry and A's and I's in Willi. The Campus Rest did coffee and lunch and Herb's Men's haberdashery took care of men's clothing. Could go on and on, but the changes have been beyond belief since that time.

I have visited numerous times over the years.....but for those who haven't the place is beyond unrecognizable...........except for the Jungle, the Fraternity Quad next door, the Field House, social science and humanities buildings, the churches and the really old buildings.

And I really admire and enjoy the beginnings of collegetown, especially Geno's place. A great addition, something we didn't know we lacked back in the day.

 

[mrhandyman]

I suppose pub night in the ROTC hanger is long dead...

ROTC building is long gone. They used to need a large truck to deliver all the kegs for the parties they held there. Those were the days. Late seventies to early eighties.

 

[Milo65]

I know in dating myself... Only bars around in the late 80's:
Ted's
Huskies
Oscars
Twisters/Nachos/Thumpers (TNT)
Hooligans
Margaritaville
Woody's?????? Not sure
Bidwell Tavern

 

[Milo65]

ROTC building is long gone. They used to need a large truck to deliver all the kegs for the parties they held there. Those were the days. Late seventies to early eighties.

Midnight Rocky Horror Picture Show in the ROTC building

 

[HuskyHawk]

I know in dating myself... Only bars around in the late 80's:
Ted's
Huskies
Oscars
Twisters/Nachos/Thumpers (TNT)
Hooligans
Margaritaville
Woody's?????? Not sure
Bidwell Tavern

Yep. And I was around for one pub night in the ROTC hanger and one my sophomore year in the Tower's common/center whatever it was called. Those glass Busch pitchers served us well for several years however.
Drinking in the halls had just been banned and we briefly had the "In Transit" rule, which didn't last long, but generated some great parties.

I think these modern kids miss out, what with cable TV, wifi, smart phones etc. All we had was dart boards and darts, decks of cards, soccer balls/hackey sacks and beer.

 

[MASSconn]

All they need is a couple bars. Nicer than Ted's and Huskies.

They need at least 2 more sports bars. Especially if the Hockey Rink is put down there. Makes ZERO sense that we have 3 bars for 25,000 students. I graduated in 2014 and this is by far my biggest downer with UConn.

 

[UconnMICK]

Midnight Rocky Horror Picture Show in the ROTC building

Also recall the Add/Drop madhouse in the ROTC building. Fun times!

 

[Fairfield_1st]

Drinking in the halls had just been banned and we briefly had the "In Transit" rule, which didn't last long, but generated some great parties.

I think these modern kids miss out, what with cable TV, wifi, smart phones etc. All we had was dart boards and darts, decks of cards, soccer balls/hackey sacks and beer.

Was the in transit rule the one with the closed container? If so, I think the Grolsch (sp) beers with the closeable top were the perfect way to get around that. I started in 85 and recall going from Hall parties in my freshman year to closed doors when I was leaving.

 

[CL82]

Yep. And I was around for one pub night in the ROTC hanger and one my sophomore year in the Tower's common/center whatever it was called. Those glass Busch pitchers served us well for several years however.
Drinking in the halls had just been banned and we briefly had the "In Transit" rule, which didn't last long, but generated some great parties.

I think these modern kids miss out, what with cable TV, wifi, smart phones etc. All we had was dart boards and darts, decks of cards, soccer balls/hackey sacks and beer.

Fooseball. Countless hours spent perfecting my roll back to the goalie shot.

 

[CL82]

Also recall the Add/Drop madhouse in the ROTC building. Fun times!

Ha ha , I haven't thought about that for years.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Was the in transit rule the one with the closed container? If so, I think the Grolsch (sp) beers with the closeable top were the perfect way to get around that. I started in 85 and recall going from Hall parties in my freshman year to closed doors when I was leaving.

No, In Transit was that you could drink in the hall if you were moving from one room to another (or a bathroom I suppose). So we set up different alcohol "stations" in 4-5 rooms and called it an around the world party.

Our genius plan to avoid the keg rule didn't last either. Tapped one in a hatchback parked below the dorm windows in Towers. Filled a bucket, put it in a milk-crate tied up with phone line and hauled it up to the bathroom window on the 4th floor, where it was dispensed into those Busch pitchers. Then they banned them on campus property at all.

 

[Fairfield_1st]

I went to Ted's once. Once.

I almost lost a sneaker in there because it got stuck in an old beer spill in the floor and came right off my foot. I left and never went back...

Nice Johnny Dangerously reference, if intended.
True stuff about the muck on the floor, but when your walking distance choices are Ted's and Huskies, for me there was only 1 choice. I hated Huskies (it was the dance music mostly) and loved Ted's. 32 oz Chug-a-mugs when they existed and Cecilia on the Juke Box. Still, for me, one of the great watering holes. I have it up there in my list with The Civic Pub (God rest its soul) and McSorely's in NY.

 

[Jarhead_1775]

They need at least 2 more sports bars. Especially if the Hockey Rink is put down there. Makes ZERO sense that we have 3 bars for 25,000 students. I graduated in 2014 and this is by far my biggest downer with UConn.

Problem is Ted's and huskies are on private property. They lease from the owner of the building. Tense situation if the state decides it wants that strip of property on King hill Rd.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Nice Johnny Dangerously reference, if intended.
True stuff about the muck on the floor, but when your walking distance choices are Ted's and Huskies, for me there was only 1 choice. I hated Huskies (it was the dance music mostly) and loved Ted's. 32 oz Chug-a-mugs when they existed and Cecilia on the Juke Box. Still, for me, one of the great watering holes. I have it up there in my list with The Civic Pub (God rest its soul) and McSorely's in NY.

And honestly, while I would likely feel differently now, back as a college student, standing in 1/8 inch of beer was pretty much normal. Who cared about such things?

I did like Huskies on Reggae night and New Wave night (Wednesdays I think). Great girl turnout on New Wave night. Dance music then was stuff like the Cure...not the crap that was to come.

 

[Excalibur]

Storrs needs a nice brew-pub with locally made beer and good food.

A branch of Willimantic Brewing would be perfect.

 

[Excalibur]

Basically move WilliBrew to Storrs Center

Didn't see that before I posted . . .

 

[junglehusky]

I think these modern kids miss out, what with cable TV, wifi, smart phones etc. All we had was dart boards and darts, decks of cards, soccer balls/hackey sacks and beer.

up hill both ways in the snow!

No, In Transit was that you could drink in the hall if you were moving from one room to another (or a bathroom I suppose). So we set up different alcohol "stations" in 4-5 rooms and called it an around the world party.

Around the world parties were still going in the 90s. Even though we never heard of the Transit rule. We had a desk in the hallway, charged 5 bucks or whatever for a cup. We had Nigel stand as bouncer. Now Nigel was the nicest, sweetest teddy bear of a Jamaican dude ever, but he was muscular and his head was shaved like Jordan's and he could stand there and glare at people, kind of. So he was the bouncer... not sure what would have happened if he actually had had to bounce someone.

 

[History Geek]

ROTC building is long gone. They used to need a large truck to deliver all the kegs for the parties they held there. Those were the days. Late seventies to early eighties.

Organizations would sponsor "beerfest" as fundraisers. 25 cents for a 12oz draft. My fraternity would do so on occasion. Usually bought about 40-50 kegs. Usually ran out in 2-3 hours. Good times. And made oodles of money.

 

[epark88]

Also recall the Add/Drop madhouse in the ROTC building. Fun times!

When I was a Freshman, they still called it 'Drop/Add' - until several folks got really bored waiting in those crazy lines and defaced all the signage so that they read 'Drop/Acid'.

My Sophomore year, they abruptly renamed it 'Add/Drop'...

 

[UCHuskies08]

It was the number one concern among students - lack of a downtown/shopping area. The school and the state listened and it looks like they did it right. I have still not been there, but I look forward to taking my kids to Storrs and visiting Storrs Center and of course the dairy bar. Hopefully soon.

It's already unrecognizable to me, and I graduated in 2008.

 

[Palatine]

We had a bar in the Student Union called The Rathskeller.

And although Rathskeller means a bar in the celler of a public building, this was on the second (or third) floor.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Also recall the Add/Drop madhouse in the ROTC building. Fun times!

In addition to scoping out the best coeds, working at Add/Drop paid off in many ways beyond the obvious regular hourly pay, re-sale of stamped drop cards to struggling students, and other fringe benefits. Totally inefficient process, yet very beneficial. Similarly, working at Teds and Huskies had its advantages.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

We had a bar in the Student Union called The Rathskeller.

And although Rathskeller means a bar in the celler of a public building, this was on the second (or third) floor.

I remember a pool hall in there, somewhere too?

 

[pepband99]

I always thought that a quality or high end sports bar would clean house up there! Especially with parents who are visiting or faculty during the week. Let the kids have it on the weekends!
I also have had a tough time with what is considered "shopping" in Storrs Center. I struggle to call fast food and a walk in clinic shopping. Wondering why there isn't a store like the Gap or Jcrew up there, seems like the perfect demo on campus. One of those Best Buy Expess stores would clean house up there IMO, there's nowhere to go to get electronics or gadgets.

1) You have to think a lack of a bar there has something to do with the People's republic of Mansfield. St Geno got his grille in, but it may take that kind of pull to get anything similar.
2) The "best buy express" items are likely covered by the Co-op, at least for students.

 

[auggie22]

1) You have to think a lack of a bar there has something to do with the People's republic of Mansfield. St Geno got his grille in, but it may take that kind of pull to get anything similar.
2) The "best buy express" items are likely covered by the Co-op, at least for students.

You are a wise soul.

Zoning - not a problem getting a liquor license to a restaurant. Problem is the current zoning in that area does not allow for a bar or pub use. Meaning you can open something called a restaurant as long as you serve food and stop serving liquor at 11pm.

There would be a dozen bars in the downtown right now if zoning supported that use. From what I have heard there is a lot of wrestling going on behind the curtain to get one pub approved. We'll see.

 

[Waquoit]

We had a bar in the Student Union called The Rathskeller.

I remember a pool hall in there, somewhere too?

And they were both awful places.