Shortly after the closure of College Hill’s Little Bigs bar, the owner of Social House acquired the property and have spent the past three years brainstorming, demolishing and reconstructing the space to create a new bar specifically for college students at UNI. The bar, named The Undergrad, is tentatively set to open this spring, and will feature a golf and gaming simulator, as well as a dance floor and DJ booth.
Kyle Dehmlow, the owner of Social House, noted that the lack of spaces for UNI students specifically on the Hill fueled the group’s brainstorming when they were initially deciding what to do with the space. “When people go out, they normally don’t just stay in one place, they normally bounce around to here and there,” said Dehmlow. “So a part of opening a new bar is to give people more places to go on the Hill. We want people to come to the Hill and we want them to stay on the Hill.”
For both Dehmlow and Jorge Covarrubias, Social House general manager, The Undergrad isn’t just a bar. When conceptualizing the bar, they wanted a space that students could come hang out at, and get a drink if they wanted. With the integration of the golf and gaming simulator, they hope that students are able to participate in other games or activities. “Really, this space will become what people make of it,” said Dehmlow. “We have the simulator, we’ll have the dance floor, we’ll have music bingo, but it’ll be what the people bring that’ll make the space. The crowd will dictate what’s popular here.”
On top of providing activities geared towards students, Dehmlow and Covarrubias discussed plans to mainly play college games on the TVs featured at The Undergrad, focusing mainly on UNI games. This is not only in an effort to make the space more inviting to students, but to encourage students who aren’t drinking to come hang out in the space as well.
Dehmlow also discussed that they plan on renting the space of The Undergrad Bar out to parties and student organizations who want to host events. “It doesn’t have to just be parties,” said Dehmlow. “I’d really like for student organizations to rent the space out for fundraisers or group socials, things of that nature.” While the rental pricings are still to be determined by Dehmlow and his team, they expressed excitement at the thought of being able to provide off-campus spaces for student organizations seeking venues. “We’re really looking to help foster community,” Dehmlow said.
While The Undergrad Bar is tentatively set to open this spring, Dehmlow and his team have poured in years of work into the location, installing entirely new flooring and modifying the space to fit the vision the team had for the bar. “I’m excited for when we are ready to open and can share all of the work we’ve put into modifying the space to the public,” said Covarrubias. “I think a lot of people who have been in this space before will be really shocked at how it’s changed.” While some construction to the space is still underway, most renovations are either being finished or have wrapped. Dehmlow and his team still hope to open The Undergrad before the end of the semester.
