After nearly 60 years, this iconic campus bar will close in the face of demolition, new development

In a Facebook post made yesterday evening, Bier Stube owner Craig Kempton summarized the future of his historic campus-area bar in one heart-wrenching final sentence.

“I’m so sorry I couldn’t save the Stube,” he wrote.

This means the iconic campus dive bar, the Bier Stube, will close for good following the weekend of Sept. 21. Kempton’s statement noted he must be out of the building by Oct. 1.

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Located at 1479 N. High St., the Stube first opened in 1966. Kempton has owned and operated the Ohio State haunt for 28 years, after beginning his journey there as an employee.

The closure comes in the face of plans for a new apartment building which received approval from the University Area Commission earlier this year. Alongside the Bier Stube, 14-0 Express and Yau’s Chinese Bistro will be demolished to make room for the new development.

Many took to social media to mourn the closure to the Stube after Kempton’s announcement yesterday, including Scott Ellsworth, owner of fellow campus bars Threes Above High, Fives Up High and more.

“This makes our hearts break for Craig, his staff and the loyal patrons of the @thebierstube over the decades,” Ellsworth wrote on the Threes Above High Instagram page. “This campus is changing quick, so enjoy what you have now because it won’t look the same when you come back to visit after you graduate.”

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