VICTORIA YU
TIGER TV ONLINE REPORTER
LSU may not have made Princeton Review’s 2009 party school list, but it did make Playboy’s at number eight with bikini, sex, campus, sports and brains as the categories for criteria.
Playboy’s Web site claims “It’s Mardi Gras all the time” at the University.
In tune with the University’s alleged atmosphere, a new bar called The Box recently opened in Tigerland.
Van English, recent University graduate and joint owner with Todd Duhon, chose to open the bar in Tigerland because he couldn’t see why not.
“I love LSU, I love the students,” he said. “It’s a great party atmosphere,” said English.
Taylor Clark, accounting sophomore said she and her friends had a great time at the new spot.
“There was a good amount of people. It wasn’t overly packed and it was clean.”
But Jonathan Owen, business junior, is not as positive about The Box, Tigerland and the University’s ranking as a party school.
“I’ve been to Tiger Bar and didn’t like it. This is exactly the same except for a paint job and a new name,” he said. “All of the bars in Tigerland are the same: the doormen with the matching shirts and you walk in and it’s like high school.”
Owen said besides tailgating or annual parties, like Carlotta Street’s Halloween party and Spanish Town’s Mardi Gras celebrations, the older college crowd’s partying scene is dull.
“For a freshman, [LSU] is a great party school. For juniors and seniors, it’s okay.”
Owen said once students reach 21 or 22, Chelsea’s and the Bulldog are favorites.
“Tigerland is geared more toward your average not 21 crowd,” he said. “And it’s the only place around LSU to go and party.”
Tigerland is located off of Nicholson Drive and is home to various bars, including Reggie’s, Mike’s, Fred’s and J.L.’s Place.
The Box is now at Tiger Bar’s previous location.
Carol Carter, associate director of the Stephenson Entrepreneurship Institute at the College of Business, said The Box needs to set itself apart to start a loyal customer base.
“If someone’s already established, what are you going to do differently to deliver a competitive edge?” she said.
The Box won’t be successful unless it finds a niche to avoid becoming “just another bar”, she said.
The Box maintains a strong University tradition and theme, English said.
“Not many other bars in Tigerland have that,” he said. “And we’re the cleanest and most well kept bar.”
Clark agreed The Box was cleaner than the other Tigerland bars. “It’s clean and nice looking because it was just redone,” she said.
The Box’s location can also be helpful.
“Tigerland is known for a drinking, party area,” Carter said. “People will barhop and that can increase The Box’s success.”
Carter said a business needs repeat customers to stay in business.
“College kids aren’t usually a loyal customer base because usually most of them are on a fixed budget and they’ll go where there are cheaper prices,” she said.
But Clark said she would return to The Box.
“I had a good time when I went and I would like to see if people continue to go there after a while,” she said.
English said The Box would like to claim every night of the week instead of how its predecessor was popular for “Tigerbar Tuesdays.”
“We want to be a fun place every day of the week, not just one day,” he said. English also said The Box offers drink specials every night for those of age.
But a business that caters to college students also has to contend with seasons when business can be slow, like summer.
However, small businesses, like The Box, can succeed during today’s economic times.
“Before, people didn’t start business because they didn’t think they could compete with the big businesses,” Carter said. “Larger companies have failed and smaller businesses can step in.”
