Save The Union
By Matthew Toledo - 12/3/2004
The Union Bar and Grill may close its upstairs stage. If it happens, it could very well be the end of underground music in Athens. This is quite possibly the saddest news I've ever heard in 12 years of living in Athens. Details are still sketchy and everything mentioned in this article may not be entirely correct, but I felt that this information was so important to get out that I had to start writing something now.
It is important to spread the news, because as more people hear about this, the odds increase that someone will step in to save one of Athens landmark institutions. Think about all the thousands of people who have rocked out at the union over the last few decades. One of them must have the power or money to help the situation. So please, spread the news to anyone you know likes the Union.
I will update this story as details come in. What you should know is that I have not yet talked to Lou, the recently married owner of the Union. I have only talked to employees and close friends of the Union staff.
It is important to know that shows currently scheduled at the Union are still happening. The John Lennon Fest this December 11th will still happen. So get your Union fix while you can.
What is known for sure:
- The Union does not own the building.
- The Union had a ten year lease with a rate cap around $1000 a month. The lease is coming up, and the new rate is triple the current amount.
- The current lease expires around February 9th or 10th of 2005.
- The Union's has already made a word of mouth agreement to renew the lease for the downstairs portion of the bar.
- Lou Renart, the owner of the Union, has not committed to leasing the upstairs yet.
- No shows are cancelled.
- The Couladis family trust owns the building. Alexander Couladis (a local CPA) and Pete Couladis (an executive chairman with the Athens County Republicans) run the trust
- Lou Lenart, the owner of the Union, is an active Major in the Army Reserve and is currently on duty and away from Athens.
- Union employees and friends of the bar had a meeting on December 9th to discuss possibly saving the venue and came up with several solutions.
- Court Street Management, owners of Skippers and The Blue Gator, were asked if they want to take over the lease should Lou decide not to renew. They have not yet decided if they will expand Skippers into the Union's stage room. It is very improbable that it will be another music venue. If they take over the lease, it will more likely be a catering kitchen and/or banquet room.
What you can do:
- Brainstorm on ways to save the Union and share your comments on the AMN. For example, there has been much talk about turning the Union into a co-op like Casa.
- Raise funds so that the Union can have time to think and capital to work with.
- Spread the news to people who have the money to help.
- Write to the Athens News and let the non-computer savvy types (a.k.a old folks and local business owners) know how much the Union means to the local scene.
Why should you care:
- The Union is the only venue in town not owned by Ohio University that incubates and fosters new ORIGINAL underground bands on a regular basis by providing them with paid gigs on weekends and not just open stages or weekday slots. While other venues do help some new bands get started, only The Union can claim to have helped sponsor hundreds of bands that write their own music instead of butchering the latest top 40 cover tune. The only exception to this is university-owned Front Room.
- The Union is the oldest bar in town. It was around during the Civil War and was a speakeasy during prohibition.
- The Union was the first establishment in Athens to serve alcohol and the first to desegregate.
- Only the Union consistently features indie, rock, punk, underground and other non-mainstream forms music.
- The Union repels yuppies. They actually spontaneously combust upon crossing the threshold.
- Their size permits them to take financial chances that larger venues can not afford to take because larger venues have larger overhead costs.
- The Union is famous the world over.
- The loss of the Union would be an incalculable loss to the local live music scene.
- Athens isn't Athens without the Union.
- If this town loses the Union at the same time that Krogers is installing a new Starbucks, then it's time to move.
Please show your support for the Union by adding your comments, ideas for saving the union, and any confirmed facts.
