Balcony's Last Stand
Amanda Seitz Photos By Ben Philabaum
Issue date: 10/19/09 Section: Scene
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It’s been well publicized that Saturday, Nov. 4, will be “Balcony’s Last Stand.” The 40 years of memories the bar holds are especially important for some Miami University students.
For sophomore Hannah Roberts, finding her favorite bar was easy. The Balcony was where her parents first met. Roberts says she frequented Balcony her freshman year but didn't find out about her parents having met there until last spring.
"I didn't even know that my mom and dad had met there until my Mom's Weekend last year when she told us the story because we were all at Balcony," Roberts says.
Although she was aware her parents' first encounter was at an Oxford bar, Roberts had no idea it was at her favorite weekend spot.
"My mom explained that she met my dad, who was playing in a band at Balcony," Roberts says. "I thought it was so cute."
So does the bar have hereditary appeal? Possibly. After her friends introduced her to the late night attraction, the bar quickly became Roberts' favorite place to drink before she even found out her parents first met there.
"I went and still go every week on Fridays," Roberts says.
As part of Roberts family tradition, there's one thing she makes her mom purchase for her when she comes into town.
"An amaretto sour," Roberts says, smiling.
Roberts' mom, Sarah, has stories that rival her daughter's. "We popped in once a week," her mom says. "That was when they had live bands and pool tables were in the back."
Besides meeting her husband there, her mom cites many unforgettable times with college friends at Balcony.
"Let's see," she says, thinking to herself. "(Sorority) sisters getting called before standards because they had their letters on, all the signs on the houses and the overflowing nasty toilets with no toilet paper."
Yup, that's pretty much still Balcony. The bar crew hears stories like these all the time. Bryan Hoelzer, the current owner of both Balcony and Blue Room, took over operations in 2000.
According to Hoelzer, Balcony's roots run deep. The community has felt its presence since 1972. Hoelzer says he is also a "regular" at Balcony, running day-today operations from cooking to general managing. He has seen it all, from super-famous celebrities to superdrunk patrons.
"My favorite memory is when I was talking to Chris Martin from Coldplay on the back steps, two weeks after they won their first Grammy," Hoelzer says.
He has more to brag about.
"Rudy Giuliani had lunch here while running for president," he says. "There's a lot of good memories."
In the nine years he's run Balcony, Hoelzer says a lot has changed.
"When I first bought it, the bar, the crowd, was completely different," Hoelzer says. "We used to have more music with no vocals. We didn't have private fraternity or sorority parties. (Students) drank Newcastle and now they drink Natty Light and take shots."
Despite all of the changes Balcony and Blue Room have seen, both have impacted generations of Miami students' memories.
"I always tried to make this the place where everyone was always welcomed," Hoelzer says. "If people got out of hand we said you got to go today but you're welcome back tomorrow. People know when they're welcomed here or not."
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"I have gotten e-mails from people from 20, 30 years ago," Hoelzer says.
Really, how could students not feel welcomed when Balcony's happy hour prides itself on some of the best deals in Oxford?
"The best drink to get at happy hour? Probably a 32-ounce draft, you can't beat that," Hoelzer laughs.
Hoelzer says his 32-ounce draft specials go beyond just the drink itself. "Beer is not a great beverage to drink, but you associate it with a good time, that's how it is with Balcony," Hoelzer says.
Some people aren't happy the good times are almost over. Roberts' mom is not at all impressed with the bar's closing. "I feel very sad that they are tearing (Balcony) down to build yet another set of apartments in the middle of Oxford," she says.
Indeed, the only hope for late night parties to continue at Balcony's former location will be in someone's apartment.
"The first floor is going to be commercial and the other three floors will be residential and should house around 20 students," Hoelzer says. "I think we're going to call it Madison Towers, after my daughter. She's eight months old."
Like it or not, Balcony and Blue Room will be demolished sometime around Nov. 15.
The one thing everyone has to look forward to is "Balcony's Last Stand," which not only will benefit Oxford lushes, it will also help award one Talawanda High School student a scholarship.
"The big party is on November 7 (from noon until 2:30 a.m.)," Hoelzer says. "Fifty percent of the door profit is going to the bands (that play that night), the other half is going to the Ozzie Scholarship. He built this business from the ground up."
Even if the building is gone, the memories will still stand.
"I just want to remember all of the good times that I've had there," Roberts says, who plans on bringing her mom to the big event. "Maybe at the new Balcony spot I'll find my husband!"
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