When alumni return for football games or Mom's and Dad's weekends, the stories of their crazy college years never seem to end. It didn't have my brand on it." With that said, Cochrane added all of the dark wooden decorations and lion decal seen in Red Lion today.Īlthough the names of these bars have changed and have a different look, the memories made in them are still alive. Located where Red Lion currently is, the bar used to host concerts for local and well-known bands.Įventually the owners of the bar ditched the Station 211 name and named the bar Red Lion.Īccording to Scott Cochrane, who owns many of the UIUC bars, Station 211 was a "big warehouse-type of space. Station 211 William OuYangĪnother place to jam out to some live music was Station 211. Maybe we need another place like this closer to the heart of campus so students can go chill out and listen to some good tunes more often. Alice in Chains, Cheap Trick and Joan Jett are just a few of the famous musical acts that have rocked out in this former establishment.Īlthough there were clubs in the area that offered live entertainment to their customers, Mabel's was set apart from the rest by how it had a gig booked nearly every night. Mabel's featured a variety of local and international artists. If you were down to listen to some good music, you went to Mabel's. Mabel's was a venue for a wide range of artists. Known today as Brother's Bar & Grill, Mabel's used to be located in this two story building. Seems like this would be the #1 Uber destination for a lot of students rather than #1 bar. Maybe it's for the best that this place shut its doors. The bar decided to close down after drawing the wrong crowd. Thankfully, that's more common to come across in UIUC bars today. Tonic was known for having the only large dance floor, full-time D.J. This is completely different from the wild dance scene that was there just over a decade ago.
If you were to walk past this location today, you will find Sushi Ichiban below an apartment complex. Somewhere along the way it became Orchid and then in 2005 it closed its doors as Tonic. The former bar located on the corner of Green Street and Wright Street first opened its doors as Cochrane's over 30 years ago. Cochrane's / Orchid / Tonic William OuYang It would be nice to have a short walk to a backup bar when the line for KAM'S is too long. Daniel's how it was, they would probably tell you some crazy story that involved too many drinks that were probably all for free.Īll I have to say is too bad that this place still isn't open. If you were to ask anyone who went to C.O. The bar closed due to having too many drinking violations.īut before being closed down, the bar was a place for students to go to be crazy with their friends and have a good time. Daniel's, a nickname for "Cochrane on Daniel's", used to be one of the most lit campus bars before being shut down. You know that abandon building next to KAM'S that is vandalized and covered in posters advertising upcoming concerts at Canopy Club? That is C.O.