Ohio State fans, students, and alumni—grab your tissues and raise your glasses, because this one stings. After nearly 60 years of pouring pints and serving up nostalgia, the beloved Bier Stube is closing its doors for good.
The quaint little dive bar that has been a staple near the Ohio State campus will soon make way for—wait for it—a 13-story wood-framed apartment complex. So, while the skyline of Columbus is about to get a bit taller, our hearts feel a whole lot heavier.
For those of us who called Ohio State home, Bier Stube was more than just a bar. It was a rite of passage, a hidden gem where you could always find a familiar face, a cold beer, and a story worth telling. My roommates and I discovered the magic of Bier Stube just before its neighbor, Lucky’s, was torn down.
Here is a picture of me and my friends at Bier Stube during Ohio State’s senior crawl a few years back.
From that day on, we braced ourselves for the inevitable fate of our newfound favorite watering hole. But as the years passed and the Stube kept standing, we thought maybe, just maybe, we were in the clear.
Until this week, that is. The news dropped like a pint glass shattering on the floor—Bier Stube has to be out by October 1st. And just like that, our go-to spot for cheap drinks, good times, and even better memories will be no more.
The End of an Era for Ohio State’s Dive Bar Scene
Bier Stube wasn’t just any bar—it was the dive bar. The kind of place that embraced you with its worn-out booths, dim lighting, and that unexplainable yet undeniable charm that made you feel right at home. It had character, it had history, and it had that distinct Ohio State spirit. This was a bar where generations of Buckeyes—past, present, and future—came to share a drink, swap stories, and maybe sing along to a few too many jukebox tunes.
Its quaint, unpretentious vibe was a refreshing escape from the ever-growing, ever-changing campus around it. Bier Stube was a place where the beer was always cold, the atmosphere was always warm, and the only thing higher than your spirits was the likelihood of running into a fellow Buckeye.
Goodbye, Bier Stube—Hello, Progress?
The Bier Stube’s departure isn’t just about losing a beloved bar; it’s about saying goodbye to a piece of Ohio State’s history. The new development, led by Harbor Bay Ventures, promises to bring a 13-story, wood-framed apartment complex—the second largest of its kind in the country—to North High Street. It’s a project that, according to Harbor Bay, will add much-needed student housing to the area. But for those of us who cherished the old, familiar haunts of High Street, it feels more like the end of an era.
It almost feels like we’re writing an obituary right now.
“Bier Stube was preceded in death by Too’s Under High, Mama’s Pasta & Brew, The O Patio…”
Along with Bier Stube, the development will also bid farewell to the 14-0 Express convenience store and Yau’s Chinese Bistro. It’s a sweeping change that marks a new chapter for the University District—a chapter where the cozy, quirky spots of yesteryear make way for sleek, new developments.
Raising a Glass to Bier Stube’s Last Call
So, what’s left to do? For starters, make sure to visit Bier Stube one last time before the doors close for good. Its final weekend of operations will be September 21, and you better believe it’s going to be one for the books. Grab your friends, order your favorite drink, and toast to a Columbus classic that gave us so much more than a place to grab a beer. It gave us memories, friendships, and a sense of community that won’t soon be forgotten.
We just hope whatever takes its place can live up to the Stube…
