Wedged between a Starbucks and Jackie O’s Public House on West Union Street lies a gem of Athens culture. The Union is an 18+ bar offering live music, annual events and, like any good bar, booze for those who are of age. While many Ohio University students have frequented The Union, possibly for a trivia night or the Rocky Horror Picture Show in October, many attendees are unaware of the rich history behind the establishment.
The Union began its life as The Elks Hotel, which contained approximately 20 rooms for families to stay in during the Great Depression. It was located at a prime spot near the train station that used to stand at the foot of the West Union Hill, which along with its 10-cent hot dogs, made it a natural place to stop. The hotel was open during prohibition, and some members of the Union’s inner circle like to believe that their rebellious streak began by selling illegal alcohol during that time.
In the 1940s, the hotel began to cater more to college students after World War II ended, beginning the bar’s path to becoming the perfect blend between the college and the town that it is today. This new shift in demographic allowed the bar, which was located in the basement, to become more popular, and the hotel was eventually converted into a two-story bar and an instant hang-out spot for beatniks, hippies and anyone else away from the mainstream crowd.
The expansion of the music scene in Athens is largely credited to The Union. Throughout the '80s and '90s, the Union hosted the eccentric crowd who needed a sanctuary where they could be themselves and listen to the best new music around. The bar would feature grunge, alternative, rock and indie bands, along with stand-up comedy and the occasional spoken-word/hip-hop act.
One of the greatest staples of the bar was Blackout Fest, a three-day bender with bands performing back to back, sometimes even on top of the bar counter. Musicians would see how intoxicated they could become while still being able to play, and the crowd was reduced to a sea of sweat, spilled beer and disconnected bodies throwing themselves around in a celebration of creation and community. What started as a silly party soon became a huge event, and making it into the lineup of Blackout Fest became an aspiration for many local musicians.
Then, on Nov. 16, 2014, The Union was suddenly a pile of rubble and burnt-up debris. A raging fire took down the entire building, rendering it entirely uninhabitable. For 18 months, employees and regulars mourned the loss of their beloved home. They wept over the destruction of their community space and for the physical evidence of friendships and self-discovery that had become nothing more than smoke and ash. Casa Nueva hosted a celebration of life for the bar, where people were able to at least come together, even if not in their preferred place. Casa, along with many other bars in town, showed support and tied customers over until The Union reopened almost a year and a half later.
After a long process of reconstruction, the Union reopened in 2016 with a massive concert and gathering of people to celebrate the return of their beloved bar. While the layout had certainly changed, The Union was back up and running and remained a place that fostered friendships and creativity where you were taught to accept the dysfunctionality of life and take it in stride.
Today, The Union is still one of the most important facets of Athens culture. It put the town on the map over its many years of existence and made it a major hub for music, and it still hosts events that encourage everyone and anyone to experience the magic of the place. For a more in-depth history of the iconic spot, watch "Last Call - The Union Documentary."
