High St. bar goes 18-up - Arts

High St. bar goes 18-up - Arts

There was a line out the door into High Street Wednesday when McFadden's hosted its first "college night" for those ages 18 and over.

"It was awesome, we had a really good crowd," said Jason Labadie, general manager of McFadden's. "People that wouldn't normally get the chance to experience McFadden's, got to come in."

The 18-plus night will become a regular feature at McFadden's "for the time being," Labadie said.

Although there are a few bars including Ledo's and Panini's that have been 18-plus for several years, no other 21-plus campus bars are going to be catering to those under the legal drinking age.

"There is a lot of great risk," said Kent Zoellner, general manager for Skye Bar, which is also located in the Gateway.

The Skye Bar does not plan on catering to the 18-plus crowd. ChristyTerwilliger, marketing and event coordinator for the Skye Bar, does not think the new 18-plus night will effect business.

"We really only pay attention to our market, if it works out well for them I think thats great," Terwilliger said.

McFadden's also recognizes the risks of inviting underage students.

"Fake IDs and stuff like that, those are a reality," Labadie said. "Our bar and security staff are trained to look for those kinds of things."

"Their choices for entertainment are limited right now," Labadie said.

Some 21-plus students do not agree with having 18-plus bars.

"There is an immature atmosphere as opposed to a mature atmosphere," said Mariah Linkhart, an undergad in natural resources.

"I think it's a really good idea, it will definitly bring a lot more business," said Marina Tripodis, an undergrad in communication. "There are no other choices really except for Panini's."

"We want to give students a chance to meet some new people they probably have not met before," Labadie said.

Whitney L.B. Miller can be reached at miller.3859@osu.edu.