The Union Bar, located at 18 W. Union St., is an integral venue in Athens for many Ohio University students and locals. On Sept. 10, the bar changed their basement policy, leaving guests under 21 unable to enter.
The Union was built on the idea of inclusion and the celebration of music. To support this, one of the features setting it apart from other Athens bars is hosting 18+ events.
The bar is split in two levels, the basement, which houses a popular pool table, and the upper level, where the live music takes place. The upstairs also contains a large dance floor to encourage support and enjoyment of the various bands and DJs showcasing their talent every night.
The Union is widely known for its live music scene. This aspect of the bar has helped build a creativity-centered atmosphere so many enjoy, and established various Athens musicians.
Due to its strong reputation, news of the basement now only being for those above the age of 21 came as a shock to many who frequent the bar.
Myke Linscott, event coordinator at The Union, denied to comment on the change in age restriction.
Ky Crampton, a junior studying political science pre-law, is 20 and said she frequents The Union basement with friends who are also under the age of 21. Crampton said she is concerned the new rule will cause divides among groups of friends.
“Most of my friends are older than me,” Crampton said. “I have already experienced some divide with that. And knowing that there is not a place where we can safely all be together.”
Crampton said she will most miss meeting people in the basement while events are hosted upstairs.
“It’s really hard to speak with people during the event, but someone would come down once in a while when I was down there and I made some pretty good friends through that experience,” Crampton said.
Jo Merz, a freshman studying journalism, is 18, and said the change does not affect her. She said the times she has visited The Union, her group has never felt inclined to move away from the dance floor and venture to the atmosphere the basement hosts.
“The events that I went to at The Union, they were all in the upper part of the building,” Merz said. “So, I never really got the chance to want to go into the basement.”
Ellie Moss, a sophomore studying political science, is 20, and finds the closure of the basement to those under 21 surprising, and said The Union seems to be making “a lot of quick decisions” recently. Moss DJs frequently upstairs, and enjoys playing pool in the basement.
“I mainly stay upstairs, but I would say I go downstairs when the upstairs would get crowded or hot, or I just kind of wanted a change in scenery,” Moss said.
Moss said they believe the shift is the beginning of gearing the bar toward an older local population, rather than students.
“I feel like it's shifting outward to people who are still in the music scene, but aren't necessarily around the 20 to 24 age range,” Moss said. “It seems the more frequently I go, the less people my age are there.”
After playing at a show recently, Moss was denied access to the basement to grab a glass of water.
“I think it'll impact the types of events I can hold and the types of events that I can play at because I think I play for a very specific age demographic, or at least a very specific genre demographic, and a lot of times that demographic doesn't really cater to older audiences,” Moss said.
