As New Brunswick Changes, the Corner Tavern Remains...

[Tango Two]

"At the intersection of Easton Avenue and Somerset Street, the Corner Tavern has welcomed travelers from the train station, given jobs to cash-strapped fraternity guys and kicked off Rutgers football tailgates, all in countless numbers.

For the die-hards, there’s always been something perfect about the tavern’s worn, diner-style booths, red-and-black bar and dark, divey, atmosphere that made this beer-and-shot business a natural place to grab a drink and set down their shoulders."


https://www.tapinto.net/towns/new-b...new-brunswick-changes-the-corner-tavern-remai

 

[Korbermeister]

The last time.i was in the CT, the floor felt like it was going to cave in and you had to enter the bar from the side door instead of the corner door. It was also not clean :(

 

[NotInRHouse]

I have been in bars on 5 continents and nearly half the states and that may be the best located dive bar I have ever seen.

The one time they ever had anyone in there was Rutgersfest and with that gone you can only imagine.

 

[Arizona Knight]

The Corner Tavern was a good spot in the early 90's when I was in school. I assume it has not changed much since.

 

[bob-loblaw]

Still just one of the best dives anywhere.

I still recall coming to Rutgers as a commuter first and driving up and seeing the Corner & thinking to myself.... this must be the bar everyone goes to. My assumption was obviously wrong, but I was quite happy it was! I feel like going there right this second.

 

[sct1111]

When I was at Rutgers (graduated 2012) no students ever went to this bar. We went there once in a senior bar crawl and the bartender and owner just looked at us funny. Meanwhile all the other bars were packed.

Awesome location but horrible college bar. I hope they sell it and someone else turns it into the great college bar it could be.

 

[ScarletKid2008]

When I was at Rutgers (graduated 2012) no students ever went to this bar. We went there once in a senior bar crawl and the bartender and owner just looked at us funny. Meanwhile all the other bars were packed.

Awesome location but horrible college bar. I hope they sell it and someone else turns it into the great college bar it could be.

Graduated in 2008 and have the exact same feedback on the place. I lived on Easton and I never saw students or anyone else attend that place. It was empty all the time, anytime.

That location would be killer for a college friendly bar.

 

[RC1966]

In 1965, the year I turned 21 and entered my senior year at RC, I ordered my first alcoholic beverage at the Corner Tavern. It was a dive then, too, but within a convenient walk from campus. In those days, there weren't a lot of attractive off-campus student hangouts in NB. Based on what what I saw last year at my 50th class reunion -- my first visit to campus in almost as many years since graduation -- that appears to be changing. I did note that Corner Tavern still stood (if not since the time of the flood), but I had no inclination to go inside.

 

[S_Janowski]

Graduated in 2011 and went there once for a bar crawl. Completely dead. No idea how that place stays open.

 

[Jim_from_RU]

I went in once and walked right out.

 

[R1766U]

Absolutely loved the corner tavern. Graduated in 2006. Place was always low key, cheap beer and an awesome shuffleboard table, pool and dart boards. Family usually had a huge dog behind the bar my friends and I dubbed the nature beast.

One of my best memories of senior year---- had a Final exam for a course I often skipped.....a friend of mine knew a bartender there who also was in the class. The bartender offered to help us study, only problem is she was working before the exam. We showed up, sat at the bar and were the only people in the place. My friend and I ended up having about a pitcher each while reviewing with the bartender for the final.
Left the CT went directly to the final feeling great. Ended up A'cing the exam and getting an A in the course thanks to the Tavern study session.

Place has great character and seems unchanged... anyone know when it opened?

 

[Arizona Knight]

Is the downstairs bar still open? That area always seemed to have some live music on the weekends. Cool little vibe.

 

[Tango Two]

Is the downstairs bar still open? That area always seemed to have some live music on the weekends. Cool little vibe.

Spook Handy weekly

 

[sct1111]

Graduated in 2008 and have the exact same feedback on the place. I lived on Easton and I never saw students or anyone else attend that place. It was empty all the time, anytime.

That location would be killer for a college friendly bar.

I'm not sure how this place stays in business. It would be a great candidate for that show Bar Rescue. All the other college bars on Easton are tiny and students are packed in like sardines. Golden Rail, Knight Club, Olde Queens and Scarlet Pub are fine but they're not exactly anything special. Corner Tavern has a nice size and a prime location located directly across a major on campus apartment complex and they can't or simply refuse to capitalize on it. It's a waste of space and has been for a long time.

It's not even one if the better dive bars. Olive Branch and Kelly's Corner are so much better and a million times more popular than Corner Tavern.

 

[ScarletKid2008]

I would consider all the bars on Easton you mentioned as dive bars.

Rutgers needs a huge bar (bigger than Corner Tavern) which can be the huge gathering spot and a prime destination. Somewhere where you actually have a dance floor area, seating area, and accessible bars. It doesn't have to be over the top nice or even upscale at all. But it should fit more than 175 people.

 

[sct1111]

I would consider all the bars on Easton you mentioned as dive bars.

Rutgers needs a huge bar (bigger than Corner Tavern) which can be the huge gathering spot and a prime destination. Somewhere where you actually have a dance floor area, seating area, and accessible bars. It doesn't have to be over the top nice or even upscale at all. But it should fit more than 175 people.

100% agree with this. Even Rowan has something like this in Landmark.

The bars in downtown NB are nice but none are really student bars. Stuff Yer face is an iconic spot to eat but the bar area is too small. When I was there Golden Rail was the bar with the dance scene but it was small. Rutgers really needs a bar just like the one you described. Most big colleges have something like that or multiple bars like that.

 

[Korbermeister]

I would consider all the bars on Easton you mentioned as dive bars.

Rutgers needs a huge bar (bigger than Corner Tavern) which can be the huge gathering spot and a prime destination. Somewhere where you actually have a dance floor area, seating area, and accessible bars. It doesn't have to be over the top nice or even upscale at all. But it should fit more than 175 people.

...And with that said. Shout out to The Melody!

 

[Scarlet Pride]

Corner tavern had a couple years in the mid 90s as a packed house kind of place

 

[NotInRHouse]

Knight Club used to have more of a dance floor before they built the back bar.

I think Brother Jimmy's gets some students at night, no?

 

[xxdxpxx]

meanwhile the court tavern can't stay open because they refuse to pay their taxes, go figure

 

[Saint Puppy]

I used to live above the Corner Tavern - the only time it was ever loud was when they were dumping bottles. The owners were my landlords and that is most likely how it stays in business - they own the building and have other revenue streams. I like most others never got how they didn't turn that place into the premier go to bar. GREAT space but just horrible marketing. I always thought about approaching them to market it but just never did. I think they just didn't care about the money - was always a mystery to me!

 

[e5fdny]

I used to live above the Corner Tavern - the only time it was ever loud was when they were dumping bottles. The owners were my landlords and that is most likely how it stays in business - they own the building and have other revenue streams. I like most others never got how they didn't turn that place into the premier go to bar. GREAT space but just horrible marketing. I always thought about approaching them to market it but just never did. I think they just didn't care about the money - was always a mystery to me!

What year did you live there?

 

[Saint Puppy]

'97-'98.....loved living there.

 

[ElmiraExpress]

"At the intersection of Easton Avenue and Somerset Street, the Corner Tavern has welcomed travelers from the train station, given jobs to cash-strapped fraternity guys and kicked off Rutgers football tailgates, all in countless numbers.

For the die-hards, there’s always been something perfect about the tavern’s worn, diner-style booths, red-and-black bar and dark, divey, atmosphere that made this beer-and-shot business a natural place to grab a drink and set down their shoulders."


https://www.tapinto.net/towns/new-b...new-brunswick-changes-the-corner-tavern-remai

Have they fixed the door yet ??

 

[e5fdny]

'97-'98.....loved living there.

Then you weren't the guy. ;)

This happened in the 80s.

 

[Upstream]

Then you weren't the guy. ;)

This happened in the 80s.

I know someone whose girlfriend lived there in the mid-80s. Maybe he was the guy.

 

[e5fdny]

I know someone whose girlfriend lived there in the mid-80s. Maybe he was the guy.

It would be a better story if that was the case.

The real story involved the Raritan, a raft, an old automobile hood, a car battery and a spotlight.

 

[Upstream]

It would be a better story if that was the case.

The real story involved the Raritan, a raft, an old automobile hood, a car battery and a spotlight.

Nope. He wasn't that guy. My friend's story involves him, his girlfriend, some other people, a contest, and some stuff I shouldn't repeat on a family message board. (I wasn't there, so I don't know if my friend's story is true. But it is a good story.)

 

[PeteGiam07]

'97-'98.....loved living there.

I've been in that apartment around 2007. That was a great space and I would of loved being in that location. My friend had the same thoughts about the landlord. Usually, you would think it is a big negative being above a bar, but that spot was a hidden gem. I believe it was 3 bedrooms, big living room, and they even had a small deck in the back. I think the only negative was parking as they had to park a couple blocks away for street parking.

 

[Saint Puppy]

I've been in that apartment around 2007. That was a great space and I would of loved being in that location. My friend had the same thoughts about the landlord. Usually, you would think it is a big negative being above a bar, but that spot was a hidden jem. I believe it was 3 bedrooms, big living room, and they even had a small deck in the back. I think the only negative was parking as they had to park a couple blocks away for street parking.

Yup - that was exactly it except we did a 4br turning the living room into a br. Good call about the deck though we never used it. And yes parking stunk, but it stunk for everyone who had to park on the steeet - would sometimes spend 30 min looking for parking. Landlord was very nice but again quitest bar in NB. Oh yeah and you were a block away from the train station - paid less than $300 in rent (20 yrs ago) - a gem indeed.

 

[ScarletNut]

The best Rutgers bar was actually on campus in the 70's when the drinking age was 18, The Rutgers Pub . You got a college ID to get in, bigger than the CT. Thursdays were the busiest days, packed actually, since many kids went home for the weekend.