FIRST: Ray’s Place
Ray’s Place, located at 135 Franklin Ave., has been in Kent serving food and drinks since 1937. The bar and grill draws in crowds for dining in as well as nightlife. Day manager Mike D’Alessandro has been at Ray’s Place for 39 years and weighed in on winning best bar.
“We always have tried to embrace not just the city, but the university and the students,” he said. “We appreciate them and appreciate them coming in here. We’re just kind of a melting pot and we do a lot of food, so it’s not just drinks … we catch everybody.”
Ray’s Place has earned its spot as a long-standing winner of best bar.
“We have a lot of experience in the industry,” D’Alessandro said. “We were all Kent State students, all of us. We all went through the transition from student to post-graduation and our careers, so we never forget where we came from.”
Kelli Nubert, an anthropology and biology student, said their favorite drink from Ray’s Place is the Long Island iced tea. The drink has been a long-time hit, according to D’Alessandro.
“That became a favorite maybe 15 to 20 years ago,” he said. “We embrace making that Long Island, and we make them from scratch, no mixes.”
D’Alessandro is glad to see Ray’s Place is still going strong.
“COVID years were pretty tough, and we really turned around and it seems like things are very much back to normal,” he said.
SECOND: Zephyr Pub
Zephyr Pub is a three-floored bar located at 106 W Main Street.
Known for its summertime fun, live music and drag shows, Zephyr remains a strong option for student nightlife.
Bruce Fuhrman, a Zephyr Pub manager explained their appeal.
“We’re a fun bar to hang out in,” he said. “I think all of the bars are different in Kent and that’s great.”
According to Fuhrman, students and locals are drawn into Zephyr because of their “cheap drinks.”
Zephyr Pub looks forward to some upcoming events as well.
“I believe all of June is our Mx. Zephyr drag queen competitions, so every Friday in June that will be going on … season five,” he said.
Sam West-Miller, a senior biology major, frequents the bar.
“I think what makes Zephyr stand out compared to the rest of other bars in Kent is the events that they put on throughout the year and also the size of their bar.”
West-Miller appreciates their welcoming environment and LGBTQ+ community friendliness.
“My favorite drink that I always gravitate towards is a Winterberry,” West-Miller said. “I also love the D20 shot because I have never seen a bar in Kent or back at home in Columbus ever do that.”
THIRD: Bar Lucci
On 257 N Water Street, Bar Lucci draws in customers with its unique events and engaging environment.
Scotty Ward, a Bar Lucci manager, has been with them since they opened in July 2022 and weighed in on their top-three spot.
“I feel like we have a little bit of everything for everybody,” he said. “We have craft beer on draft, we have craft cocktails and we have bottles and cans of domestics.”
Good drinks are not the only thing Bar Lucci draws in customers with.
“We have a stage upstairs, so we like to do events like DJs, karaoke, music events and stuff,” he said. “There is a lot to offer for a college town that also has residents and students.”
According to a group of students, as well as Ward, the favorite drink at Bar Lucci is vodka Redbull.
Bar Lucci has plenty of plans for the future, Ward said.
“We got several shows for bands coming up in April, along with some DJ sets we’re looking forward to,” he said. “Every Tuesday night, we host a Super Smash Brothers Melee tournament.”
Bar Lucci is hosting a large event at the end of May, hoping to draw in students.
Tanner Smith is a beat reporter. Contact him at [email protected].
