If you’re an upperclassman at SCU (or an adventurous underclassman), chances are you’ve been to The Hut. The small dive bar on the corner of The Alameda and Franklin has been part of the Santa Clara tradition for decades – almost since the bar’s opening in the 1940’s.
However, I hadn’t truly realized the impact the dive has had on the Santa Clara community until I, like the rest of the students, received an email from James Lyons, VP of University Relations, about the closing of The Hut. As I continued researching, I was amazed to find out SCU’s alumni site had a plethora of pages dedicated solely to The Hut. The traditions carried in the bar had become interwoven in the university itself. The Hut, which first opened in the 1940s under the name Maui Hut, was a site for pre- and post-wedding celebrations, Dads & Grads, Grand Reunion visits, and much more. Another famous tradition, that of pinning a dollar bill on the ceiling, began in the 1970s by a group of seniors who then returned to pin their business cards in the same spot. Rumor has it that almost $5,000 worth of cash is hanging there now. In the words of Lyons, “The closing of The Hut will mark the end of an era.”
The owner of the Hut, Mike O’Brien has announced that the doors will officially close on December 14th. In honor of the huge contribution the bar made to Santa Clara culture, the school has agreed to purchase memorabilia that will keep some traditions alive. Additionally, students and alumni are invited to submit their favorite memories to be compiled in an online yearbook here. Here are a couple of the great photos that have been compiled so far, courtesy of scu.edu.
A photo from the 1986 yearbook
A photo from the 1985 yearbook
Clearly, The Hut’s absence is going to be felt by Broncos of all ages.