With Ohio University Homecoming approaching, Uptown businesses are anticipating steady crowds throughout the weekend as students and alumni congregate at perennial Athens hangouts.
Festivities on Court Street will begin with the opening of The Crystal, 34 N. Court St., at 5:45 a.m. Saturday. Broney's Alumni Grill, 7 W. Carpenter St. will open at 6 a.m. and serve free bacon, eggs and toast, said owner Brad Broney.
The Crystal owner Don Pepper said he expects to see mostly students in the morning and alumni later in the day.
It's a fun day
Pepper said. It's nice to see alumni back in town. Unfortunately for us it's a lot of work.
OU President Roderick McDavis will not ask bars to open later this weekend, university spokesman Jack Jeffery said. Last year, local bars refused to change their Homecoming hours despite McDavis' request that they open later in the day.
The Athens Police Department will have more staff on duty this weekend, Chief Rick Mayer said, adding that the department usually sees more calls overall because of the increased number of people in town, though the proportion of alcohol-related calls does not increase.
The OU Police Department will also have more staff on duty because of the influx of visitors and the home football game, Lt. Rich Russell said.
Matt Spain, a bartender at Pigskin Sports Bar and Grill, 38 N. Court St., said Homecoming is the calmest of the big weekends despite the early opening hours for bars. Students and alumni are more familiar with the laid-back drinking culture than out-of-towners who come for Halloween or Palmerfest, he said.
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Ryan Riley unloads cases of beer from his delivery truck during his stops Uptown yesterday. Riley had approximately 1,300 cases to deliver in order to help the local bars stock up in preparation for Homecoming Weekend.
Bars prepare for Homecoming weekend
