The first Import House opened in 1986 in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and a second location arrived at 68 N. Court St. in 1995. In the fall of 2024, the Athens location closed, leaving half of the space vacant and Athens locals in anticipation of the unknown business which will take its place.
Import House was known for its spunky designs, vibrant clothes, beautiful jewelry, tobacco and hookah pipes. With an array of fun items, regulars were sad to see the business go.
However, those who enjoy venturing down Court Street for a night out with friends may have just won the lottery. The popular evening destination Stephen’s on Court, located at 66 N. Court St., bought half of the Import House space and has been doing renovations.
Serving several delicious dishes, custom cocktails and other alcoholic beverages, Stephen’s can often be seen with a line out the door. Reagan Gerth, a sophomore studying criminology, said the atmosphere in Stephen’s is unmatched and hopes the renovations will cut down waiting times and create additional space for socializing.
“I am really excited just to see what it looks like and … to have more room,” Gerth said. “I also really hope that it brings more people in.”
Gerth said the longest she and her friends have waited to get into Stephen’s was an hour to an hour and a half during Ohio University’s Mom’s Weekend.
Although the renovations are incomplete, Stephen’s customers can look forward to the bar’s expansion and a change of scenery. Brock Roush, manager of Silver Serpent Exotic Gifts, said although he does not know what the renovation plans are, he is excited to see the finished product.
“I think it is great for Stephen’s,” Roush said. “I have been going to Stephen’s for around four years now, since I turned 21, so I am happy to see that they are doing well.”
Despite people’s excitement, some local business owners believe seeing a new business utilize the Import House space would be a more productive decision, instead of another 21-plus location.
Maxwell Levitsky, an employee of Athens Underground, said the other half of Import House should be taken by an organization that contributes to the neighborhood’s growth.
“I’d love to see any kind of local business come and take that space, preferably not a bar or another smoke shop … I think there are way too many of those in town,” Levitsky said.
Levitsky said the addition of a diverse business would bring “more traffic” to the area, as most students do not travel past West State Street unless they are looking for an alcoholic drink.
The possibility of a new business opening on Court Street seems to be the talk of the town between existing owners and employees. Each establishment has ideas for the space, and it is only a matter of time before a new owner takes the spot.
“I think it is imperative we continue to promote other avenues for people to spend their time recreationally,” Roush said. “There are a lot of great things that you can do that we do not have access to now.”
Roush said he wishes Athens still had a bowling alley or he would enjoy seeing an arcade move into the space.
There is no doubt Court Street is home to numerous local attractions. From a plethora of bars and restaurants to boutiques and cafes, Bobcats and residents do not have to look far for a delicious meal or an unforgettable experience.
Shaylee Tucker, owner of Big Run Kava Bar, said she supports the Athens bar atmosphere, but welcoming a fresh perspective may be more important in the long run.
“Anybody in Athens would prefer to see something maybe more local … I think that is what Athens kind of thrives off of,” Tucker said.
