Illini Bars

#101      
Reported location at the corner of 1st and green where the dominos is... Hard pass. Truly a shame for students, but this move probably brings in an older crowd.
Really shouldn’t call it Kam’s if it’s in a brand new building in a completely different location. Definitely gonna be backlash. Just call it something else.
 
#102      
Really shouldn’t call it Kam’s if it’s in a brand new building in a completely different location. Definitely gonna be backlash. Just call it something else.
I dont disagree with you, but they wont let the Kams brand die just like that.
 
#103      
The Kam's thing upsets me probably more than it should but it's synonymous with Illinois and I had a lot of damn good times there.
 
#106      

KrushCow31

Former Krush Cow
Chicago, IL
I graduated 5 years ago and most of the bars I liked are gone already. So is green street. I can't imagine what it's like for someone who graduated longer ago.
 
#107      

Joel Goodson

respect my decision™
No way would you build a new Kams all the way at First and Green if they weren't sure the hockey area is getting built across the tracks.

This. And that's the only good news about the new location. Well, beside that it won't reek of piss for awhile.
 
#108      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
Reported location at the corner of 1st and green where the dominos is... Hard pass. Truly a shame for students, but this move probably brings in an older crowd.

I understand why this was moved from the Hockey thread, but still, the only way this makes any sense is if that area is about to become a hub of student life in the way campustown is currently. This does not look like a development meant to be on an island, which is what it would be currently.
 
#109      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
I graduated 5 years ago and most of the bars I liked are gone already. So is green street. I can't imagine what it's like for someone who graduated longer ago.

I got there in 2005. A lot of the names of places were different, there was some different stuff, but in terms of physical infrastructure it was not that different from when my Mom was there in the mid-70's, with the big exception of the engineering campus.

By 2025 it's gonna be virtually unrecognizable from that. In a good way, all things considered, but really rapid and dramatic change.
 
#110      

BananaShampoo

Captain 'Paign
Phoenix, AZ
I got there in 2005. A lot of the names of places were different, there was some different stuff, but in terms of physical infrastructure it was not that different from when my Mom was there in the mid-70's, with the big exception of the engineering campus.

By 2025 it's gonna be virtually unrecognizable from that. In a good way, all things considered, but really rapid and dramatic change.
Not sure I agree with you on the "in a good way". A lot of these high rise buildings kind of killed the look and more historic feel of what used to be Campustown. A lot of them have no real design aesthetic, but were just built for maximum efficiency within the constraints of what zoning would allow to cram as many student apartment units in as possible. The Campustown I knew as a student is essentially almost gone, and it's been just over 16 years for me. It just makes me sad and gives me less reason to go back and visit if I can't go back to my old favorite places.
 
#111      

South Farms

near Ogden & Rt 83
I graduated in 1983. Campus town is really unrecognizable to me already. over 60% of Green St has changed from say Wright to First , and Sixth St from the creek to Daniels is over 60% changed as well .

Now I know what the 60 year olds meant in 1980 when they said it was unrecognizable to them from 1938!
 
#114      

KrushCow31

Former Krush Cow
Chicago, IL
I graduated in 1983. Campus town is really unrecognizable to me already. over 60% of Green St has changed from say Wright to First , and Sixth St from the creek to Daniels is over 60% changed as well .

Now I know what the 60 year olds meant in 1980 when they said it was unrecognizable to them from 1938!

Like I said before, I graduated in 2013 and like 40% of campus town is unrecognizable to me. So don't feel bad.
 
#115      

South Farms

near Ogden & Rt 83
yea, its just too bad that besides Murphys, there wont be a single watering hole left from the early 80's.

I get it that the Locksmith and Jon's Pipe shop and the Florist are victims of changing times, but the Co-Ed theater marquee was iconic, C-U's version of the Bruin Theater in Westwood. Ours is gone, the Bruin lives on. I am all about capitalism and progress, and letting a property owner get the best use for his land.

But it doesn't mean I have to embrace every new building as progress. I really wish the town would restrict residential towers to areas a block off Green and Daniels and Wright.

Im just not quite sure what the overall plan the city of Champaign has for Campustown. Its not obvious to me. Students should live in housing areas , not in the commercial districts. Just my opinion.
 
#116      
House of Chin anyone?

Two buddies and I sneaked into House of Chin our senior year in high school. One proceeded to throw up all over the table we were at. We beat a hasty retreat.

On a side note. Got to know Eddie Chin in high school as we both played tennis for our schools. He was a good tennis player and an even better guy.
 
#117      

Ransom Stoddard

Ordained Dudeist Priest
Bloomington, IL
Im just not quite sure what the overall plan the city of Champaign has for Campustown. Its not obvious to me.

$$$$$

Students don't pay property taxes, but their landlords do. I'm not solid on tax law, but I think high-density residential is more tax beneficial to the city.
 
#118      

South Farms

near Ogden & Rt 83
$$$$$

Students don't pay property taxes, but their landlords do. I'm not solid on tax law, but I think high-density residential is more tax beneficial to the city.

Oh, I get that

but even towns as corrupt as Chicago have publicly filed and discussed plans that tend to limit certain types of buildings to certain areas .
You wont see a mega story building , compared to the other buildings in the area , going up in DePaul or UofC neighborhoods , even if there is demand from students to build it.

And I'm not defending Chicago's crooked politics here, Im just saying building 25 story buildings on Green makes no sense to me from an overall standpoint. They belong in downtown Champaign.
 
#120      

South Farms

near Ogden & Rt 83
mockup-eb2e3f31_180x.jpg

I do

I bought my bro this Tshirt for his birthday six weeks ago

https://longlosttees.com/collections/u-i-urbana-champaign
 
#121      

APS iMBA

Urbana, IL
Really shouldn’t call it Kam’s if it’s in a brand new building in a completely different location. Definitely gonna be backlash. Just call it something else.
Brand equity. You don't waste something like that. Although, the most prominent brand association is that the place smells like puke & piss.... Still, its someplace you have to go at least once.
 
#122      

ilphotog

The camera never lies
Champaign
The building permit for the new retail/Kam's building has been issued, construction should start soon. There could be a possible surprise addition to the building that old-timers might enjoy.
 

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#124      
Anybody here old enough to remember Bidwell's? It closed at the end my 1st semester freshman year and there were lots of tributes. I guess it was kind of legendary. On Wright, just north of Green. Replaced by Whitt's End.
Afraid to say I do. But barely as it changed to Whitr’s end I think when I was a freshman.
 
#125      

Joel Goodson

respect my decision™
Took my youngest to a dog and pony show held by the Speech Language Pathology program for incoming grad students on Saturday. Been at least 32 years. WTF happened? lol Is Murphy's the lone old bar left?