In the ’70s and early ’80s, the Memorial Union at the University of Rhode Island housed The Pub, a local bar serving alcoholic beverages to students and professors.
The bar saw a tumultuous history during its lifespan, opening in 1971.
While its history is highly documented, Steven Corey, a member of the student council in the early 1980s, commented on what the atmosphere of the establishment was like.
“It was a common meeting ground,” Corey said. “Students of all backgrounds were there at some point, before they would go out and party elsewhere.”
Corey highlighted the significance of The Pub to local Greek life, and how for most, it was usually the first stop before attending other local bars in the area.
In addition to The Pub, another place that students could drink on campus was America’s Cup Room. This establishment, located on the first floor of the Memorial Union, had a much more formal atmosphere than The pub. Corey described it as being similar to a modern cafe, with the establishment also holding events.
“America’s Cup Room is where you would go if you wanted a more quiet conversation, like after a lecture. Often, the guest speakers… would take students there and they would talk to students about a certain topic,” Corey said. “In terms of my own socialization, by the time I was in graduate school, I hung out at the America’s Cup Room.”
There wasn’t much competition between the two establishments, however, as there was a very distinct tone attributed to each location. While The Pub was known for its rowdy nature, America’s Cup Room saw a much different crowd of patrons.
From the years of 1980 to 1983, the bar on the ground floor of the Union remained closed, as the drinking age was raised from 18 to 20 years old. The Pub closed once again in 1984, after the drinking age was raised again to 21. Finally, it gave its last reopening in 1985, just a year later.
“I think that The pub didn’t have as many people going to it, because the drinking age was now pretty clearly 21, and most undergraduate students were not at that age yet.” Corey said. “I’m thinking it fizzled out… I think it was something where most people made the decision of ‘It’s not what it was’.”
Perhaps one day, the Memorial Union will reunite with this relic of the past, but for now, it only exists in the memories of those who experienced it firsthand.
