OT: Will The Corner Tavern ever come back/will owners sell?

[RUsojo]

I’m not old enough to remember a time others have spoke of where the corner tavern was a cool place. However, Rutgers desperately needs a well maintained, elite college bar on campus, and the corner tavern space seems to be wasting away and could potentially be a location that could deliver this to Rutgers.

If you go around the big ten, every campus/off campus has a spacious signature bar that can cater to both current students and the alumni when the come in for games (often more than one). I’m assuming there are some local ordinances that prevent building up, and getting a roomy two story bar/restaurant on Easton.

I have been asked by my friends from around the big ten when they come into town where’s the bar they should go and every time it’s difficult to answer and whichever I give always gets a weak review.

If if recall there is more than one level to the corner tavern. Can someone come in and take it over?

 

[Barnaby&Neill]

I’m not old enough to remember a time others have spoke of where the corner tavern was a cool place. However, Rutgers desperately needs a well maintained, elite college bar (often more than one) on campus, and the corner tavern space seems to be wasting away and could potentially be a location that could deliver this to Rutgers.

If you go around the big ten, every campus/off campus has a spacious signature bar that can cater to both current students and the alumni when the come in for games. I’m assuming there are some local ordinances that prevent building up, and getting a roomy two story bar/restaurant on Easton.

I have been asked by my friends from around the big ten when they come into town where’s the bar they should go and every time it’s difficult to answer and whichever I give always gets a weak review.

If if recall there is more than one level to the corner tavern. Can someone come in and take it over?

I discovered it after college, and can’t say I ever truly enjoyed the place, BUT it has perhaps the coolest collection of artifacts on campus: mugs hang above the bar with names and class years from the ‘40s. I learned these mugs were made for soldiers when they went off to WWII, the mugs were left above the bar for whenever they wanted to return and have a drink. Whatever happens to the bar, those mugs need to be preserved.

 

[bac2therac]

Its disappointing that Rutgers has a woeful bar/restaurant scene unprepared for Big 10

 

[RU at the shore]

So the Rutgers bars, like the pizza, are below average.

 

[Shelby65]

Remember $2 pitchers Tuesday nights at the Knight Club and at the Corner Tavern on Thursdays.

 

[sct1111]

Its disappointing that Rutgers has a woeful bar/restaurant scene unprepared for Big 10

Downtown NB has some nice restaurants though.

 

[RU4Real]

CT was my hang.

 

[Knightmoves]

I remember buying $1 Bud draft in sand pails for the frat bros at the CT. Sam was often the bartender at the time.

 

[Joey Bags]

Went there to play cheap pool in college, otherwise place is a dump. Though to be fair so are the other college bars like Knight Club, Golden Rail, Scarlet Pub, etc.

Stuff Yer Face has a nice college bar vibe.

 

[Joey Bags]

I’m not old enough to remember a time others have spoke of where the corner tavern was a cool place. However, Rutgers desperately needs a well maintained, elite college bar on campus, and the corner tavern space seems to be wasting away and could potentially be a location that could deliver this to Rutgers.

If you go around the big ten, every campus/off campus has a spacious signature bar that can cater to both current students and the alumni when the come in for games (often more than one). I’m assuming there are some local ordinances that prevent building up, and getting a roomy two story bar/restaurant on Easton.

I have been asked by my friends from around the big ten when they come into town where’s the bar they should go and every time it’s difficult to answer and whichever I give always gets a weak review.

If if recall there is more than one level to the corner tavern. Can someone come in and take it over?

Old Bay was the NB GOAT, still sad that place closed.

 

[robcac26]

Its disappointing that Rutgers has a woeful bar/restaurant scene unprepared for Big 10

I think the exact opposite. So far I've been to Columbus, Minneapolis, Champaign, Bloomington, and College Park, and out of that list I'd only put Columbus and Bloomington ahead of us.

 

[Morrischiano]

Pete’s always had hot easy girls and cold cheap beer in 1993-94.

 

[DHajekRC84]

Remember $2 pitchers Tuesday nights at the BULL PEN and at the Corner Tavern on Thursdays.

yeah that's what the KC used to be called when it was more of a local bar. Lived across the street on Stone St. my time OTB. Used to play darts there with a guy who was the Caption of the Rutgers Police..not a bad relationship to build when your a student lol.

 

[rurichdog]

Pete’s always had hot easy girls and cold cheap beer in 1993-94.

They were probably all underaged so...😄😉

 

[kupuna133]

Pete’s always had hot easy girls and cold cheap beer in 1993-94.

We called Pete’s “last chance saloon”. We would pop in there if we struck out walking back to our house from the other bars. We could always find some friendly willing participants.

 

[e5fdny]

I discovered it after college, and can’t say I ever truly enjoyed the place, BUT it has perhaps the coolest collection of artifacts on campus: mugs hang above the bar with names and class years from the ‘40s. I learned these mugs were made for soldiers when they went off to WWII, the mugs were left above the bar for whenever they wanted to return and have a drink. Whatever happens to the bar, those mugs need to be preserved.

+1

Does anyone know if they turn them around like the Ugly Mug does in Cape May when the mug holder passes? Or if they were KIA in WWII?

 

[RU4Real]

I think the exact opposite. So far I've been to Columbus, Minneapolis, Champaign, Bloomington, and College Park, and out of that list I'd only put Columbus and Bloomington ahead of us.

I honestly wasn't that impressed with Bloomington.

Gainesville has to be on anyone's Top 10 list, though.

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

The old book store on easton by stuff shouldve always been made a bar. Double decker bar

 

[RUsojo]

I honestly wasn't that impressed with Bloomington.

Gainesville has to be on anyone's Top 10 list, though.

I thought bloomingtob was easily ahead of RU tbh

 

[NotInRHouse]

Its disappointing that Rutgers has a woeful bar/restaurant scene unprepared for Big 10

This is woefully false.

NB has a ton of excellent restaurants and bars from dive to standard college fare to bougie.

Just because you don't like them or want to complain doesn't change it.

 

[29PAS]

The CT was my/our place also. Anyone remember the bar downstairs? It was only opened on certain occasions, although I can't remember what sort of occassions they were. Homecoming maybe?

Last time I looked in the window, it was as if they just walked out and locked the door. Hopefully Vinny or whoever saves the mugs.

 

[e5fdny]

The CT was my/our place also. Anyone remember the bar downstairs? It was only opened on certain occasions, although I can't remember what sort of occassions they were. Homecoming maybe?

Last time I looked in the window, it was as if they just walked out and locked the door. Hopefully Vinny or whoever saves the mugs.

I do.

 

[Jumba72]

Has anything become of the Golden Rail space? How about Kelly's Korner?

 

[rurichdog]

The CT was my/our place also. Anyone remember the bar downstairs? It was only opened on certain occasions, although I can't remember what sort of occassions they were. Homecoming maybe?

Last time I looked in the window, it was as if they just walked out and locked the door. Hopefully Vinny or whoever saves the mugs.

I remember a band playing down there one night. They had a pair of bouncers checking IDs at the door, then another set of bouncers keeping patrons from falling down the trap door & stairs that led to the basement.

 

[RUinPinehurst]

Nice memory of CT for me. Had a shot and a beer there the day of graduation from Rutgers College (on the mall), with two fellow students who also were in my high school graduating class. Richard McCormick (Sr.) gave the commencement address to the last graduating class of RC ('81).

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

I thought bloomingtob was easily ahead of RU tbh

I think part of it is that people dont consider downtown NB apart of Rutgers despite is being very close to campus. Downtown NB is significantly nicer than almost all big ten schools, we just dont “own” it

 

[Barnaby&Neill]

I think part of it is that people dont consider downtown NB apart of Rutgers despite is being very close to campus. Downtown NB is significantly nicer than almost all big ten schools, we just dont “own” it

Disagree, I’m not a New Brunswick hater, loved it there as a student and moved back for a few years later in my 20s, but the big ten towns I’ve been to also have an equivalent “downtown” section to supplement the campus and divier college spots, and most of those downtowns are nicer and more developed.

 

[fsg2]

I think the exact opposite. So far I've been to Columbus, Minneapolis, Champaign, Bloomington, and College Park, and out of that list I'd only put Columbus and Bloomington ahead of us.

Thank you. This sad-sack thread is ridiculous.

 

[Saint Puppy]

Used to live above the Corner Tavern many moons ago, and used to pay our rent to the owners of the CT who owned the whole building. The mom (Marie) was super nice, but her mom was nasty. Best college bar space/location at RU by far in my opinion - problem was it generally seemed empty and full of locals for the most part. Should have been THE signature bar of Rutgers with that space - just never happened. Always got the vibe the owners didn't want it to be a huge college bar.

 

[Source]

I discovered it after college, and can’t say I ever truly enjoyed the place, BUT it has perhaps the coolest collection of artifacts on campus: mugs hang above the bar with names and class years from the ‘40s. I learned these mugs were made for soldiers when they went off to WWII, the mugs were left above the bar for whenever they wanted to return and have a drink. Whatever happens to the bar, those mugs need to be preserved.

Rutgers football letter winners Leonard H. Cooke (1937-39), Milton Nelson (1939-40), Vincent Kramer (1939-40) and Thomas M. Compiths (1940) were four of over 60 students whose names appear on steins that hang above the bar counter in the Corner Tavern at Somerset Street and Easton Avenue. CT’s Vinni Inzano reported the mugs were donated en masse in 1941 as a remembrance of the Rutgers students of the time who were going off to fight in World War II. A pledge was made to return the mugs to their owners if the bar ever changed hands.

The Rutgers veterans returned each year on Reunion Weekend to check up on the steins. They have remained there undisturbed for over 80 years. In the 1990s, one man shipped his mug from his home requesting it be hung with the others. The group reunions have long since stopped but occasionally a member of the Class of 1941, or his descendents, come into the Corner Tavern to look for the reminders of the time Rutgers men went to serve their country when the world was on the line.

 

[Barnaby&Neill]

I think the exact opposite. So far I've been to Columbus, Minneapolis, Champaign, Bloomington, and College Park, and out of that list I'd only put Columbus and Bloomington ahead of us.

If you’d take New Brunswick over Minneapolis as a “visiting fan experience,” you are either severely biased or flubbed your trip to Minneapolis

 

[Barnaby&Neill]

Rutgers football letter winners Leonard H. Cooke (1937-39), Milton Nelson (1939-40), Vincent Kramer (1939-40) and Thomas M. Compiths (1940) were four of over 60 students whose names appear on steins that hang above the bar counter in the Corner Tavern at Somerset Street and Easton Avenue. CT’s Vinni Inzano reported the mugs were donated en masse in 1941 as a remembrance of the Rutgers students of the time who were going off to fight in World War II. A pledge was made to return the mugs to their owners if the bar ever changed hands.

The Rutgers veterans returned each year on Reunion Weekend to check up on the steins. They have remained there undisturbed for over 80 years. In the 1990s, one man shipped his mug from his home requesting it be hung with the others. The group reunions have long since stopped but occasionally a member of the Class of 1941, or his descendents, come into the Corner Tavern to look for the reminders of the time Rutgers men went to serve their country when the world was on the line.

As alumni, it’s our collective responsibility to make sure those mugs end up in a good place.

 

[Saint Puppy]

Rutgers football letter winners Leonard H. Cooke (1937-39), Milton Nelson (1939-40), Vincent Kramer (1939-40) and Thomas M. Compiths (1940) were four of over 60 students whose names appear on steins that hang above the bar counter in the Corner Tavern at Somerset Street and Easton Avenue. CT’s Vinni Inzano reported the mugs were donated en masse in 1941 as a remembrance of the Rutgers students of the time who were going off to fight in World War II. A pledge was made to return the mugs to their owners if the bar ever changed hands.

The Rutgers veterans returned each year on Reunion Weekend to check up on the steins. They have remained there undisturbed for over 80 years. In the 1990s, one man shipped his mug from his home requesting it be hung with the others. The group reunions have long since stopped but occasionally a member of the Class of 1941, or his descendents, come into the Corner Tavern to look for the reminders of the time Rutgers men went to serve their country when the world was on the line.

Great story - thank you for the history lesson!

 

[RutgersK1d]

I’ve always been a huge fan of the NB bars. There’s something for everyone. It seems most visiting fans love our Easton bars.

 

[robcac26]

Pete’s always had hot easy girls and cold cheap beer in 1993-94.

I gotta ask...any time I've seen "cold beer" referred to as a selling point, it's been by older people, and I've never given any thought to whether or not the beer will be cold at any bar I've been to. I can't help but wonder, did many bars in the past struggle to keep their beer cold? Why was this a selling point?

If you’d take New Brunswick over Minneapolis as a “visiting fan experience,” you are either severely biased or flubbed your trip to Minneapolis

Well I definitely had a great time there and have visited multiple times, but visiting Minneapolis didn't feel like I was visiting the college, just felt like I was visiting a city. When you're in New Brunswick you know you're at Rutgers. Likewise with Bloomington and Columbus--there's no mistaking that you're in a college town.

 

[RUInsanity]

Disagree, I’m not a New Brunswick hater, loved it there as a student and moved back for a few years later in my 20s, but the big ten towns I’ve been to also have an equivalent “downtown” section to supplement the campus and divier college spots, and most of those downtowns are nicer and more developed.

I think some people have the tendency to only look at the positives of new places they visit for a short time while focusing more on the negatives (or what needs to be improved) for the places they live or visit often.

RU is spread over 5 campuses and different cities/towns - so it make as it difficult to have a single specific campus college type restaurant/bar spot. I've always referenced the College Ave NBR campus as the center point. While NBR has it's share of challenges - it's a pretty cool college town with a ton of bars and restaurants and virtually every type of cuisine. While it's not Madison Wi. , it holds its own.

 

[Zak57]

I gotta ask...any time I've seen "cold beer" referred to as a selling point, it's been by older people, and I've never given any thought to whether or not the beer will be cold at any bar I've been to. I can't help but wonder, did many bars in the past struggle to keep their beer cold? Why was this a selling point?


Well I definitely had a great time there and have visited multiple times, but visiting Minneapolis didn't feel like I was visiting the college, just felt like I was visiting a city. When you're in New Brunswick you know you're at Rutgers. Likewise with Bloomington and Columbus--there's no mistaking that you're in a college town.

It's funny since Columbus is a much bigger city than Minneapolis.

 

[robcac26]

It's funny since Columbus is a much bigger city than Minneapolis.

That may be, but I had been to both cities for things unrelated to their respective universities, and you definitely know you're at Ohio State when in Columbus. University of Minnesota is of nowhere near that level of importance to Minneapolis.

 

[kupuna133]

New Brunswick is fine from a college bar scene standpoint. What New Brunswick lacks is a better downtown game day/ game weekend bar scene (George street) and a pedestrian friendly connection to that scene.

 

[NickRU714]

Pete’s always had hot easy girls and cold cheap beer in 1993-94.

I read this as 1933 and thought it was a Beaced post.