Reggie’s Bar Set To Open Tomorrow

Following Years of Renovations, Concordia University Bar Will Finally Re-open

Concordia Student Union VP Lori Dimaria standing inside the renovated Reggie’s Bar space. Photo Shaun Michaud

After two years of anticipation, students will finally be able to sit down for a pint on campus.

Reggie’s Bar, located on the Mezzanine-level of the Hall-Building, will open on Thursday, Nov. 26 at 2 p.m., according to Lori Dimaria, Concordia Student Union VP Clubs and Internal.

She made the announcement during a CSU council meeting on Wednesday night.

“If [students] want open mics, then we’ll have open mics. If they want poetry night, if they want to have bands come in, if they want to rent the space to have a charity event,” Dimaria said. “There’s endless possibilities, and I’m here to help facilitate that.”

Plans to renovate the space were set in motion last year by Kate Soad Bellini, Dimaria’s predecessor. Dimaria took on the project this past May.

The opening of the bar will be a “soft launch,” according to Dimaria. This is meant to allow the staff some “time to adjust” to the new situation, and to not “bombard” them on the first few days.

“We want to give them a platform of success,” she said. “When we see that they’re a little bit more comfortable, we will be having a thank you party—an appreciation party—for the different stakeholders that have helped us throughout this project.”

John Talbot, CSU VP Student Life, will be planning a party for the general student population as a welcome to the space, according to Dimaria.

Both construction and the securement of an alcohol license have delayed the inception of the new space.

“There’s always going to be roadblocks when it comes to construction. You’re always going to have a delay, or an unexpected occurrence that happens,” Dimaria said.

Despite applying for their liquor license “a while back,” they needed to have a picture of the completed physical space in order to secure the license. They took the necessary photos last Tuesday.

“Staff, students, employees­—they’ll all be able to reap the benefits of it,” she said. “We have a couple of options within the school, and it’s nice to be able to go grab beer, and have a bite as well.”

Dimaria believes the space will benefit the Concordia community as a whole, and serve as a comfortable place to unwind on campus.

The bar will open at 2 p.m. from Mondays to Fridays, and it will close at midnight from Mondays to Wednesdays, and 2 a.m. on Thursdays and Fridays.

It will not be open on Saturday and Sunday, but the possibility of holding special events in the space over the weekend will be up for discussion, according to Dimaria.