With a long-term vision to enhance student residential life and promote the small-scale charm of the village of Gambier, Kenyon has decided to not renew a lease for the Gambier Grill. The Grill, at 100 E. Brooklyn St., will close no later than June 30.
Mindful of the need for local social and recreational alternatives, the College is exploring opportunities to at least temporarily operate the Peirce Pub as a late-night bar and restaurant with beer and wine sales. A new bar and restaurant eventually will be established in downtown Gambier.
In the College master plan, student housing of design similar to the North Campus Apartments is envisioned for the property at the corner of East Brooklyn and College Park streets.
The College is working on a business close-out agreement with Gambier Grill lease-holder Andy Durbin of Mount Vernon. “The College has had a good working relationship with Andy Durbin, but we do not see a future for business use at that location,” Chief Business Officer Mark Kohlman said. “We are consulting with our partner AVI Foodsystems to take full advantage of the Peirce Pub for student recreation.”
The Gambier Grill location has for years been an iconic student hangout. Larry’s Pizza operated there in the 1970s, and the Pirates’ Cove bar and restaurant opened after an expansion and building improvements in 1978. The name was a nod to the Pirates nickname of the old Gambier High School sports teams. The College bought the building in 2002, and the business began operating as the Gambier Grill under different management. The original owners of the Pirates’ Cove opened an Italian restaurant by that name in Mount Vernon about eight years ago.
The building that houses the Grill and apartments will be razed. The College this month removed a small, neighboring building that until recently housed the Student Activities Office. Student Activities staff has moved to Gund Commons.