“I Wanna Go Back to Ohio State, to Old Columbus Town...”
Ohio State's campus is full of legendary bars, restaurants and campus spots – and we visit all of them.
In this week's article, we talked to Aaron from Threes Above High to learn about the unique dive bar's history and growing impact on campus.
History of Threes
Before there was Threes Above High, there was Too's Spirits Under High. But in 2017, when Ohio State began its redevelopment of 15th and High, it became clear that Too's days were limited. So the planning of Threes began.
"Scott, the owner, started planning another bar around a year before the closing of Too's, it was only right to name it Threes," Aaron says.
Toos officially closed in December of 2017, and now Threes, Fours, and Fives are all open in Columbus.
How Campus Changed
Even from the days of Toos, Campus has seen a major facelift. All along High Street and Lane, luxury apartments are being put in to meet the demand for off-campus housing.
"Everyone knows Ohio State itself is up to date and modern, but it's mainly the off-campus area that has changed a lot. You have seen new buildings and areas, but you have lost a lot of culture," Aaron said.
Threes is a perfect example of how Campus is changing. The now chain of bars existed as only Too's just a few years ago. But now Threes, Fours and Fives have been opened along with many other new businesses throughout the campus area.
Best Buckeye Memory
There have been so many memorable nights at Threes, but the one that stands out to Aaron was the last night at Toos.
"That night was just legendary," Aaron looks back on.
Every football game is a memory in itself, but the 2017 Penn State game was especially memorable at Threes.
"Penn State was up the whole game, and when we took the lead I got up on the bar and was spraying champagne," Aaron laughs.
Building Buckeye Community
Threes has become a common name among students, and it in many ways has become more than just a dive bar.
"If you know our brand, we are more than just a bar."
Aaron talks about Scott, the owner, and his impact on the greater community.
"During Covid, he put out a T-shirt and raised around 40,000 or 50,000 thousand dollars for all the bartenders and managers when the bars were shut down," Aaron says.
Back when Too's still stood and its fate was uncertain, the bar was so beloved by students that there was a large only push to #SaveToos. Ultimately, Too's didn't survive, but the legacy of the bar now exists in Threes, Fours and Fives.
Menu Must-Haves
Threes is best known for its "Tidal Wave" shot.
"It's a blue shot, but when you take the shot we dump water on you," Aaron said. "A lot of people will take their friends here to do the Tidal Wave for their 21st or if they are from out of town."
This fun tradition is an example of what sets Threes apart from just a regular campus bar.
Craziest Memory
Threes might have gotten a little too big for any major celebrities to come in, but at the much more dive-bar atmosphere of Too's, a lot of athletes would come in regularly.
"Zeke and the Bosas would come into the basement of Toos," Aaron says.
The location of Threes allows for any home game to be a crazy memory, and the relatively new bar will have plenty of crazy memories to come.
Threes Above High is open from 7-2 from Tuesday-Saturday. Fives also just recently opened and is open on the same hours farther up on North High.
