“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 Rachel at Ugly Tuna Saloona to learn about the history and impact of the campus bar.
History of Ugly Tuna
Ugly Tuna is most known for its old location in the Campus Gateway where the bar opened in 2004, but in 2019 it moved to its new location on Chittenden. The move has not hindered Ugly Tuna's popularity as the bar is still largely popular with students and the local community.
How Campus Has Changed
One thing Ugly Tuna is known for is its consistency. According to Rachel, the bar continues to get a steady stream of patrons and regulars even when new places pop up somewhere else on campus.
"Every year I feel like there is a new bar that gets popular, but I think we get a lot of students that love coming here for the chill vibes and to just hang out," Rachel said.
Campus is constantly changing, but places like Ugly Tuna add a sense of stability and even nostalgia for those looking for a regular watering hole.
Best Buckeye Memory
For Rachel, working with the crew makes every shift but, one particularly special memory for her was last year's Senior Crawl.
"I feel like working with the crew, with your friends is special," Rachel said. "Senior Crawl last year was memorable, it was one of my first shifts dealing with the mass volume. It was great to see all the seniors out."
Community is important to Ugly Tuna, and being able to be a part of Senior Crawl helps solidify its place among the Ohio State campus community.
Building Buckeye Community
Since moving from High Street, Ugly Tuna has seen a general decrease in foot traffic, but an increase in regulars.
"We have built up a lot of regulars, which is cool because our bartenders get to build relationships with the kids," Rachel said. "It's more than just serving the drinks, it's talking to them and knowing what's happening in their lives."
With its location, Ugly Tuna combines both the campus bar feel and the local dive bar.
Menu Must-Haves
Rachel says that Ugly Tuna is known for its Long Islands and its Fish Bowls.
The Fish Bowls are large, shareable blue cocktails that have made the bar wildly popular.
"We've had the Fish Bowls forever," Rachel said. "They make for a great time."
Craziest Memory
Recently, The Ohio State Women's Hockey Team won their first-ever National Championship. To celebrate they went to Ugly Tuna that week.
"They would come in with their jerseys, and they would bring the trophy, which is funny because by the end of the week it was all banged up," Rachel said.
The Ugly Tuna Saloona creates a warm and safe environment that allows for many athletes or teams to come celebrate with the community.
Make sure to follow Ugly Tuna on Instagram, and go support this local business from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. every day.
