McMenamins aim for site in OSU's new parking garage across from Gill

By BENNETT HALL
Gazette-Times business editor

Brian and Mike McMenamin are an Oregon State University success story, but their plan to open a pub at OSU is running into some opposition on campus.

The brothers — both Oregon State grads — operate a highly successful string of more than 50 brewpubs in Oregon and Washington, including one in downtown Corvallis. Their empire includes historic hotels, converted movie theaters, even a golf course, as well as breweries, a winery and a distillery.

Now they want to lease space for a new location on the ground floor of a five-story parking garage under construction at Southwest 26th Street and Washington Way, right across the street from Gill Coliseum and a short walk from Reser Stadium.

"Being on a campus, being able to intertwine with the campus community, is really appealing to us," said Brian McMenamin, the elder of the pair.

The brewpub would be just one part of a 30,000-square-foot food service complex that would take up most of the $17 million parking ramp's first floor. Operated by University Housing & Dining Services, the complex would include several restaurants and an upscale grocery that would replace the Arnold Dining Center, an aging facility that serves about 900 dormitory residents on the south side of campus.

While the McMenamins pub would be operated separately, student body president Kristen Downey thinks introducing alcohol into an undergraduate setting could be a recipe for disaster. Most dorm residents, she noted, are too young to drink legally, and those who do often create trouble for themselves and others.

"When things happen, it's going to be the individual students who are held accountable," Downey said. "It's not going to be the university administration taking responsibility for creating the situation by bringing a bar on campus."

Downey isn't the only member of the campus community to raise concerns about the project, and Housing & Dining Services held a meeting in March to address them. About 25 people attended, including student leaders and representatives from the Campus Safety Office and Student Health Services.

"It's not just one particular person," said Rich Turnbull, associate director of Housing & Dining Services. "Anything with alcohol on campus I think is a particularly sensitive issue."

The group came up with a list of 11 concerns. While many revolved around the issue of underage drinking, there was also a desire to make sure students would not be excluded from patronizing or working at the pub, which would serve a full range of food and would likely screen movies.

The list was submitted to McMenamins, and Turnbull expressed confidence that company officials would find ways to resolve the main issues.

"I think they'll be able to address almost everything that's in here," he said.

A follow-up meeting will be held on campus in about two weeks, Turnbull said, with McMenamins and Oregon Liquor Control Commission officials in attendance. After that, university administrators will decide whether to enter formal lease negotiations with McMenamins.

Ben Rawlins, general legal counsel for the Oregon University System, said he's not aware of any other campus in the state where alcohol is currently available, but there's no policy against it.

"The established practice is that has been up to the campus president on a case-by-case basis," he said. "It'll be up to President (Ed) Ray."

While McMenamins still hopes to be pouring its Hammerhead Ale and Terminator Stout at OSU when the new food complex opens in January 2007, the brothers themselves have steered clear of the debate.

"We're letting that process go by itself. If it works out, that's great — we're there if it works out," said Brian McMenamin. "We don't want to be part of the commotion."

Bennett Hall is the business editor for the Gazette-Times. He can be reached at 758-9529 or bennett.hall@lee.net.