Richmond Bar Scene

Remember Richmond when college life meant packed bars, live bands, cheap beer, dancing until closing time, and somehow making it to an 8 a.m. class?

The Dog. Sutter’s Mill. Bombs. Bull’s Horn. Phone 3 Lounge. The Bear and Bull. These were the places where friendships were made, romances began, and questionable decisions became stories we’d tell for the next 50 years.

From the wild weekends of the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s to the unforgettable nights of the ’90s and beyond, Richmond came alive after dark. We cruised around looking for friends before cell phones existed, ran into half our graduating class on Friday nights, and stayed for one more song—right up until that familiar announcement:

“You don’t have to go home… but you can’t stay here!”

Then came Sunday morning and the promise that we’d never drink again… at least until next Thursday.

Many of those bars have been gone for decades. Buildings have changed, signs have disappeared, and friends have scattered across the country and around the world. But mention one of the old places to someone who was there, and watch the stories start flowing.

Our Richmond, Kentucky Old School Bars commemorative print brings together more than two dozen iconic bars, taverns, and nightclubs in a colorful, vintage-inspired design. It’s a conversation piece, a trip down memory lane, and a gift for EKU alumni, Richmond natives, former students, and anyone who remembers when a night out in Richmond was an adventure. Explore the print and our collection of bar-inspired shirts, hats, and keepsakes below.

The bars are gone… the friendships remain… and the stories get a little better every time we tell them.

🍺 How many do YOU remember—and which one holds your favorite memories?