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The Border officially reopened its doors last week, rejoining the competition for DU students’ entertainment dollars, but management at other bars in the area say they aren’t worried because each establishment has its own niche in the DU market.
Mike Schettler, co-owner of Stick-e-Star, said it did see an increase in business during the period that the Border was closed. A representative of Jordan’s said the Irish-style pub had a small drop off in traffic on the nights after the Border reopened, none seemed concerned about a real loss in profits to the new Border.
“I think that there’s a little bit [of business] for everybody. I’m serving a different crowd [than the Border]. We do a lot of event nights and fun things and that makes us a little bit different,” said Schettler.
Jordan Saliman, owner of the Stadium Inn, while maintaining that the Border has not impacted his business one way or the other, agreed.
“I’m a niche marketer,” Saliman said, “This is the only bar in the area where you have this clientele. We have that versatility.”
“Everyone will see a little bit taken out of [their business with the Border reopening], but the ones that can find the niche are the ones that are going to make it,” Schettler said.
The Border was shut down after the loss of their liquor license due to an underage drinking violation.
While the new owners have promised that the new Border will serve only the over 21 crowd, other bar owners are questioning whether they can make it without the underage business.
“The thing about the Border is that they’ve always had a different crowd, a younger crowd. The question is can they survive only serving 21 and up? I don’t think they can,” said Chris Swanson, a manager at Jordan’s.
The management of all three bars also agreed that to be successful they needed to attract more than just student business and each had had to establish its niche with the outside community as well. Swanson said Jordan’s appeals to an older student crowd and more a more affluent crowd in the outside community.
“I think there are enough business and students and community for everyone to be successful,” Swanson said.
Schettler also said that the students are not his only clients.
“I do more than just the bar scene. I do catering and birthday parties. Because when the kids are gone in December and all summer I have to keep that cash register ringing,” Schettler said.
As one student puts it, the Border is part of DU.
“I feel like a lot of people aren’t really that open to the Border reopening. But, I think it is nice because it does have that long-standing history with DU. In a silly way it’s part of DU. I will go there, but I’m not necessarily going to only go there just because it’s open,” said Adrienne Estes, a junior.
