Bryan looks to get students interested in downtown | Bryan/College Station, Texas

Printer friendly version |

E-mail to a friend |

0 8 comment(s) |

Published Thursday, September 11, 2008 6:30 AM

Bryan looks to get students interested in downtown

By JANET PHELPS
janet.phelps@theeagle.com

By JANET PHELPS

janet.phelps@theeagle.com

Five years ago, Jeff Harmon set out to bring a small taste of the big city night life to Bryan-College Station.

The local business-owner said he knew he wanted to build a nightclub in Bryan-College Station, but where?

Harmon settled on Downtown Bryan -- an area that five years ago housed just a few shops and restaurants along its aging streets. The area was charming, Harmon said, and had potential for growth.

Since Harmon opened Halo Bar in 2003, Downtown Bryan has received a dramatic makeover.

"I can tell you now, it's a night-and-day difference," Harmon said of historic downtown.

And Bryan city officials agree: Downtown is a destination spot for the county. Now those officials want college students to discover the area for themselves.

Organizers of College Night this Friday hope the wide offerings of entertainment and fun will bring Texas A&M University and Blinn College students to the area.

"The great thing about downtown is it has something to offer everyone," LaSalle Hotel manager Alissa Burgess said, listing art, great food, shopping and entertainment among the attractions. "And because it's so varied, it reaches out to people from 20 to 80 years old."

Planned entertainment starts at 8 p.m. when Waco musicians with Wall of Fiction will play at The Palace Theater.

Jason Barnum, a Waco police officer and guitarist for Wall of Fiction, said the band plays original songs and some covers. Two of the four members are police officers, so Barnum said their work definitely influences the bands songs.

"All of our songs are about real life," he said, explaining they have songs about hating TV and a man who died during a police car chase.

Dancing begins at 9:30 p.m. at Halo with a drag show set for 11:30 p.m. The weekly event always draws a packed house, Harmon said.

Harmon said Friday's entertainer will travel from California for the event, which will be hosted by local performer Coco Chanel.

At Stafford on Main Street, Bonnie Blue, Myth and Legend, Skyscrapers and Legacy Sails will begin playing at 9 p.m. Wine and Alchemy, meanwhile, will play at Revolution Cafe and Bar around 10 p.m.

Burgess said many shops and restaurants will stay open late to welcome students.

Organizers are hosting a drawing for a laptop and local gift certificates. To get in on the raffle and find maps the area, visit the Carnegie Library on Main Street where a team of volunteers in bright green shirts will pass out information.

Bryan Officer James Hauke and Burgess planned the event together almost five months ago, the two said.

"We were just sitting around discussing different ways to draw more people to downtown," Hauke explained. "About the same time we heard people telling incoming students not to go north of Villa Maria. We thought if we could get these freshmen down here and show them what we had, then we thought they would come back. From there it grew to us asking: Why target just the freshmen?"

Downtown is not Northgate, but organizers said that's a good thing.

Downtown Bryan Economic Development Association Executive Director John Hendry said the area is charming, romantic and unique.

"It just offers an alternative to some of the more common franchise restaurants and shops found elsewhere," he said.

When Harmon opened Halo Bar, he said, Main Street had not yet been remodeled, and the alley behind the bar was a dirt-filled lot. But even then, he said, the old buildings had character.

Now the area boasts a slew of restaurants, shops, live music venues, bars and businesses in remodeled facilities, many of which were built in the late 1800s through the 1920s.

And for those who might say Halo is a gay bar, Harmon has an answer: "We have more of a heterosexual crowd than we do have a homosexual crowd by far."

Harmon, who has worked in nightclubs from New Orleans to Austin, said his club is the best dance venue in Bryan-College Station, and students who want to should come out and experience it firsthand.

"On Friday night, we're the place to be, hands down," he said. "Whether you're black, blue, straight, white, gay. I don't care what you are, everybody's welcome."

Notice about comments:
TheEagle.com is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. TheEagle.com does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not theeagle.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.

Full terms and conditions can be read here.

Comments

(Requires free registration.)

8 comment(s) found!

Posted by: On: 9/16/2008

Comment Title: Comments
This will probably be my last comments regarding this story. Again, I did not start this "event" or "advertisment". I was contacted about giving a statement to The Eagle regarding the city of Bryan trying to attract students to the downtown area. It was not a "Halo" story or any particular business. It was about informing people about the other choices other than Northgate. You can look at City Data or any other report. My comments were regarding my business not any other bar or restaurant in Bryan. I can assure you, the police are called to Northgate more times in one week than I have in 5.5 years. Regarding this comment "The owner of halo should be ashamed of himself trying to trick young college kids into come to his hell on earth bar the behavior in there is deplorable." I am not trying to trick anyone and these "young college kids" are adults. If they do not want to come to Halo, then they have plenty of other choices in downtown Bryan or Northgate. Obviously, you know nothing about Halo because if you did, you would know that "deplorable" is definetly not the adjective to describe Halo. This is yet another case of someone commenting on a situation that they have no real facts. In closing....If you do not want to visit Halo, stay home. We are not forcing anyone inside or to pay our cover charge. The proper way to use deplorable would be...This deplorable person is making an anthill into a mountain. Quit judging people and focus on yourself. I have never had to contact the police regarding a possible rape, stabbing, or murder. That is a statement that the bars on Northgate could not make. Check your City Data all you want, then check your newspapers regarding those specific issues I just mentioned. I like Northgate and wish them all well, but downtown Bryan is not trying to be like Northgate.

Posted by: Annonymous On: 9/16/2008

Comment Title: Downtown
Wow, it's weird that all of this goes on. My family and I have lived down the street from downtown Bryan and NOTHING like this goes on. My dad and I recently walked down the street to downtown Bryan and there was never any activity going on. It was actually really quiet and nice! I don't know where some of you have been, but I think y'all must be talking about somewhere else, lol. You probably haven't even been to downtown Bryan. If you haven't, do NOT talk crap! Everywhere there is going to be some kind of crime. Look at College Station, there have been dozens of car burglaries!!! Downtown Bryan is a very safe place! Everybody should go there!!!

Posted by: On: 9/16/2008

Comment Title: Downtown bryan unsafe dont be fooled!!!!
Downtown bryan is a horrible place for young people to go after dark. The people telling you otherwise are trying to make money off you dont be fooled the facts about bryan can be found at www.city-data.com/. What you will find there will be facts about bryan and its hooker,drug and gangbanger problem not opinions. The owner of halo should be ashamed of himself trying to trick young college kids into come to his hell on earth bar the behavior in there is deplorable.

Posted by: On: 9/16/2008

Comment Title: Comments
Let me start off by saying that I was approached by The Eagle for my comments. I also want to comment on some of the other comments regarding this story. I have been in downtown Bryan for 5.5 years. I could have put my bar in any area that I chose but decided that my particular location was the best fit for me. In the years that I have had Halo, the police have only been called maybe 5 times. It was not for a anything other than a bar arguement. This happens at any bar, in every city in the world. Overall, I would say that my bar is probably one of the safest bars in town. The police are called to bars everynight on Northgate. We do not have "thugs" or "hookers" working our corner or inside of Halo. The only problem we have had was with three people arriving to come to the bar. They parked past Cafe Capri and were harrassed. They were not in front of Halo or on the next block. Despite what people may think, Halo and Main Street are safe. If there were a serious problem, I would not continue to be there nor would my patrons continue to come. Revolutions, Murphy's, The Stafford and the restaurants in our area are safe and without many problems. If you were to venture out to the outer areas, maybe you are asking for trouble. However, that is the case with any city. Regarding the "immoral" comment...We are'nt grabbing people off the streets and forcing them into Halo. We are'nt trying to convert anyone to anything. It is really simple...Some people do not drink, so they stay out of liquor establishments. Some people do not believe in driving foreign cars so they buy American. Some people do not like the "big" city so they stay in the country. Some people do not like country music so they listen to Candy 95. Some people don't believe in the Catholic religion so they choose Baptist. It is all about YOUR choices. If you don't agree with something, stay away from it. If you do not know what you are commenting about, you should not comment. Halo, is not some seedy, dark, nasty, hustler bar. We are one of the cleanest and probably the nicest dance club in town PERIOD. We do not have prejudices and welcome anyone. If you have prejudices, please keep them at home. We don't judge, neither should you. Downtown has a lot to offer people. The downtown area is looking better and better. The area is getting new tenants regularly and it will only help. It is a very clean part of Bryan and not full of 20,000 18 year olds crowding into a small space. Downtown Bryan may not be for everyone but at least give people the opportunity to see it on their own.

Posted by: On: 9/16/2008

Comment Title:
I want to hear more about this Halo Bar and immoral behavior. I've never heard of it. Where is it?

Posted by: Daytime is fine. Night time it is a no go zone. On: 9/15/2008

Comment Title:
People have been killed in this area just in the last few months. MLK, Sims, Beck, WJB, S.College, and Finfeather go into this area or cross it. Murders and attacking criminals have committed violent crimes just in the last few months. A Bryan thug walked into the Police Station talking about killing someone and attacked the police station officers just a few weeks ago. Hookers, drug high people, and bums walk the streets at night. Do a eagle and KBTX archive search on crime in this area. No area of Bryan going into downtown is safe. Bryan gang bangers run these streets. Police officers have had shoot outs in these area of Bryan. Gang members have shot others. Some innocent and killed them.

Posted by: Rufus On: 9/15/2008

Comment Title:
What's this immoral behavior of which you speak.

Posted by: concerned citizen On: 9/15/2008

Comment Title: dangerous after dark
Students be very careful if you chose to go to downtown bryan after dark there is a heavy drug, prostitution and crime problem in that area. The people you see in that part of town after dark are mostly criminals looking for there next high or worse. The halo bar spoke of in this story is a cesspool of immoral behavior you young folks dont want any part of.