If you’ve been around Ohio State‘s campus recently, you’ve probably noticed something… different. Buildings are disappearing. Shiny new apartments are going up in their place. And now, another beloved North Campus bar might be next on the chopping block.
According to reporting done by The Lantern, Little Bar — yes, that Little Bar, the game day staple with the tent, the chaos, and the memories — could be demolished as soon as January 12, 2026.
But if you scroll through Little Bar’s Instagram, they’re not so sure about that date. And honestly? Neither are we. Still, the exact day isn’t the main issue here. Something bigger is going on here… what’s happening to the soul of the University District?
A Bigger Problem Than One Bar Closing
This isn’t just about Little Bar. It’s about a slow, quiet transformation that’s been happening for over a decade now.
The city seems determined to turn High Street into something that looks and feels a lot more like the Short North. New buildings. Cleaner facades. All in the name of luxury student housing.
And on one hand, I totally get it. The area near 15th Avenue that used to house Mama’s Pasta & Brew and The O Patio actually turned out pretty great. There are new apartments, the shiny WOSU building, and even the legendary Mikey’s Late Night Slice right there. The O Patio reinvented itself as The O on Lane, and from the looks of it, that move worked.
But here’s what really grinds my gears: the places that don’t survive.
The ones that get bulldozed and never come back.
The Mama’s Pasta & Brews of the world. The Lucky’s Bars of the world. Too’s Under High.
Gone.
And soon? Little Bar.
What’s the Line in the Sand?
Seriously… where does it stop? That’s a legitimate question.
At what point do we lose every piece of character that made the University District what it is?
What happens when Out-R-Inn, Threes Above High, or even Buckeye Donuts are next? Are we really okay with that?
We’re inching closer and closer to a High Street that feels sterile and corporate — where every bar looks the same and every building could be anywhere. That’s not Columbus. That’s not the Ohio State I know and love.
Too’s turned into Threes, which somehow dodged the demolition zone (for now). But Little Bar sits right next door… and it might not be so lucky.
Is There Even a Solution?
Maybe the solution is for new developers to keep existing tenants on the first floor of these new buildings — at the same rent they currently pay, locked in permanently. But even that feels… wrong.
Because honestly, would you want to eat at a Buckeye Donuts that’s inside a luxury apartment building? Part of its magic is that cramped space, the barstools, the late-night line spilling out the door. There’s history there. Grease. Soul. Heart.
Same with Little Bar. There’s something magical about walking down High Street on game day morning and seeing their patio absolutely packed with drunken energy and chaos. Why would we want to destroy that?
Who Are These New Apartments Really For?
Developers say this new project will offer premium student housing.
Translation: expensive apartments that most students can’t afford.
Even the project manager admitted it — according to a report from The Lantern, these places aren’t meant to be affordable. So who are they really for?
Sure, more affluent students (read: their parents) will shell out top dollar for a place with a gym, study rooms, and rooftop amenities. But do we really need more of those when we’re losing the very things that make campus campus?
You can hide behind the “we need more student housing” argument all you want, but I PROMISE you… luxury student housing is not how you address that issue.
The False Choice That’s Killing High Street
It feels like we’ve been given a false choice:
Either have new, modern apartments… or keep our gritty, divey, history-filled bars and restaurants.
But why not both?
Why not build new housing on Summit Street or elsewhere off-campus, where old, unsafe houses could be replaced? Trust me, there’s a LOT of them.
Why not knock down buildings that aren’t wildly popular and beloved?
Why does High Street have to be stripped of everything that made it special?
Not every part of the city needs to look like the Short North. The University District should look like the University District.
What We Actually Need
Look, some buildings absolutely need an upgrade. The UDF at 12th and High? Sure, knock that down and start fresh. But why is it always the beloved places that take the hit?
It’s probably because small businesses can’t afford to fight back — or afford to rent in the new buildings afterward. Those spaces go to corporate chains that can pay whatever it takes.
We need the University, the city, and the University Area Commission to proactively ask and listen to current and former Ohio State students’ opinions before the area loses its identity entirely.
Because a bland, cookie-cutter High Street might look “nice” on paper… but it’s not the Columbus we fell in love with.
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