Last call for on-campus pub

Media Credit: James Norton, Staff Photographer

Louie's Suds & Sun Pub, a San Diego State icon for more than 30 years, will likely lose its place on campus this May because of the Associated Students' program known as Modern Space.

Modern Space is a plan to upgrade the Aztec Center and add 20,000 square feet of improvements to the Student Union. The projected renovations will begin in Spring 2009.

The bar, a student favorite, will have to close down because of the improvements.

Pub owner Louie Holton said that he was warned against getting involved in any "student upheaval" against closing the bar and that it would reflect badly on securing a new lease.
"They want a smooth transition and they don't want protests," Holton said. "They don't want the students' voice to be heard or they don't want me to be a part of the students' voice, which I'm not. I think the students should know what's going on their campus; this is their student center."

Speaking at the A.S. Council meeting Wednesday, psychology senior and Louie's pub employee Joseph Kowalow offered an impassioned plea to save the pub.

"This is a for-the-students, by-the-students council," Kowalow said. "You're here for us and we are here because we want your support to help save, move or relocate Louie's."
Kowalow was told that the council was not prepared to give an answer at this time, but a response came soon afterward by SDSU officials. On Friday morning, there was a meeting between Holton and R.D. Williams, Director of Communications and Campus Relations for Aztec Shops, which administers the food services under a contract with A.S.

Holton, an SDSU alumni, was told that there were neither plans for an interim pub nor was there a suitable location, according to Williams.

Holton said that over the years, Aztec Shops has cut the pub's hours, prevented him from opening on Saturdays and reduced the size of the outside patio.

Williams said A.S. has made every effort to inform students about the renovation, which will begin in the spring of 2009. He also said that Holton has been aware of the plans.

"We have been talking with Louie on and off for the last two years, saying that at the time the (Aztec) center undergoes construction, that all the businesses in there would close," Williams said. "Louie has known for quite awhile now that this was coming."

The pub is a fan favorite with students and has also maintained a good relationship with the university for many years, factors that should not be overlooked, Holton said.

Modern Space will upgrade the Aztec Center with healthier dining options as well as a wish list of student features like a 24-hour computer and study lounge, multi-purpose theater and a satellite fitness center, Aztec Center Director Lynn Cacha said.

The campus is overcrowded with narrowing class and eating space, a problem that is only going to get worse. The renovation is one strategy to give students some much-needed breathing room, Williams said.

"One of the reasons that both the A.S and Aztec Shops is excited about the new building is that it gives us a chance to upgrade and improve the quality and probably the efficiency of the whole operation," Williams said. "We're going to be having to look creatively at every inch of space available in the campus just to make sure that people have a place to have lunch. That's our biggest challenge right now."

SDSU has a reputation as a party school, something that has reflected unfairly on the pub, Holton said. He was quick to point out that the pub was not the problem but rather underage and unsupervised drinking in the residence halls, something that SDSU is currently addressing.

"This is about the students losing an icon, something that has been here for 30 years and has not been the problem on this campus," Holton said. "Change is inevitable, things happen, but why change something that is not broken?"