In 1998, Binghamton University’s pub closed, ending 28 years of one of the busiest, most popular spots on campus. The place served beer, liquor and greasy bar food. And since this was the ’90s, a cloud of cigarette smoke hung lazily in the air.

For the first 12 years of the pub’s existence, the drinking age was 18, so it was welcome to everyone. But in 1982, the drinking age rose to 19, and then 21 in 1985. By 1984, New York State had pictures on driver’s licenses, so it became somewhat more difficult for students to use fake IDs.

But the pub still stayed open for another decade and a half, and some of Binghamton’s finest passed through. As a bartender, Billy Baldwin was a fixture of the pub during his time at Binghamton, according to Yvonne Deligato, Binghamton University archivist. Professors and pupils drank together, arcade machines buzzed in a corner and patrons enjoyed games of pool and darts.

One of the less-remembered parts of the pub, though, are the concerts. The pub hosted open mics, a cappella groups and student bands. It was a central place from where music constantly leaked to the rest of campus, whether by jukebox or live music. Here are some pictures of those performances, generously provided by Special Collections at Glenn G. Bartle Library.