Skip to Main Content
The independent news website of The Kent Stater & KSTV

KentStater

The independent news website of The Kent Stater & KSTV

KentStater

The independent news website of The Kent Stater & KSTV

KentStater

Lunden Morgan, Megan Frey and Shane Besselman pose as the Powerpuff Girls on November 2, 2024, on the patio of Dominick’s in Downtown Kent, Ohio.

Bars, businesses and first responders prepare for Kent Halloween

John Engoglia, Beat reporter November 3, 2024

As the night sky dawns across downtown Kent, the city prepares for the crowds that will inevitably hit the street for parties and fun on Saturday night, the last day of Kent Halloween. Downtown Kent’s...

Bartender Chris Allen refills a drink for customers eating at the bar at Ray's Place on March 20, 2022. Ray's is located at 135 Franklin Ave.

A night in the life: What it’s like for bartenders in downtown Kent

Lauryn Tadda, Reporter March 8, 2024

When Friday night hits, downtown Kent fills with people looking for a good time. Whether it’s Long Island iced tea at Ray's, a Hulk at The Loft or a Dom Bomb at Dominick's, the bartenders are there to...

A long line of people wait to get into Water Street Tavern on Oct. 28, 2023.

Students get their spook on for Halloween weekend

Andrew Bowie, Adrianna Quinlan, and MinJee Yoo October 28, 2023

Students recover and look ahead Fraternity houses lay empty the morning after Friday night parties with cans strewn everywhere but nobody to be seen. Still, some go-getter students were up and moving...

People wait in long lines to get into bars all across downtown Kent despite the cold during Fake Paddy's Day.

Despite the bitter cold, party-goers bar hopped late into the night on Fake Paddy’s Day

Alton Northup, Kiara Rodriguez, Reporters March 13, 2022

A blizzard that brought frigid temperatures well below 20 degrees was not enough to stop hundreds of Kent State students from descending onto downtown Kent for annual Fake Paddy’s Day celebrations. “It’s...

Pedestrians walk past 157 Lounge on South Water Street in downtown Kent on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2018.

Police: 157 Lounge owner charged with first-degree misdemeanor assault

Rachel Gross Reporter May 19, 2021

Matthew Guska, the co-owner of 157 Lounge in Kent, was arraigned on a charge of first-degree misdemeanor assault Tuesday following a May 14 incident in his bar where police said he hit a patron in the...

Olson Hall is home to the CCI Commons.

CCI Commons events expanded virtually during COVID-19 semesters

Austin Monigold May 7, 2021

The CCI Commons were adjusted to accommodate students during the past two semesters and typical staples of CCI like RA events, storage for projects and computer availability faced severe changes.The commons...

Crowds of people wait to enter Barflyy for Fake Paddy's Day on Friday, March 13.

Undeterred students continue partying into the night for Fake Paddy’s Day

Morgan McGrath Reporter March 14, 2021

“We started drinking at 8 a.m.” A former Kent student who identified himself as John waited patiently outside of Barflyy on Saturday night in downtown Kent. Fake Paddy’s Day 2021 had begun. Long...

Sophia Fricioni poses with her roommate on their front porch. 

Fake Paddy’s Day celebrations not stopped by COVID-19

Rachel Karas, Assigning Editor Zaria Johnson, General Assignment Editor March 13, 2021

A gray house on the street corner of East College Avenue was vibrant with people in St. Patrick’s-themed garb filling the yard, the porch and the neighboring house’s balcony, but the festivities were...

157 Lounge to face the Ohio Liquor Control Commission for repeated coronavirus health violations

Megan BeckerReporter October 14, 2020

157 Lounge in downtown Kent received a citation from the Ohio Investigative Unit (OIU) Saturday night for coronavirus health violations. Undercover OIU agents witnessed around 100 people in the bar with...

157 Lounge on South Water Street in downtown Kent was referred to the Ohio Investigative Unit for being out of compliance during 10 COVID-19 safety check-ins conducted from mid-June through mid-Sept. A main issue was that employees consistently failed to enforce mask wearing for customers and staff.

Three Kent bars referred to state investigators for repeated COVID-19 violations

Lyndsey Brennan, Reporter October 1, 2020

Three bars in downtown Kent, 157 Lounge, Ray’s Place and The Pub in Kent, have been referred to the Ohio State Highway Patrol for investigation after repeatedly being found out of compliance with critical...

157 Lounge on S. Water Street in downtown Kent on Oct. 18, 2017.

Update: Pino, 157 Lounge and other local court cases

Brandon Bounds and Laina Yost August 29, 2018

The following is an update on the status of four court cases relevant to Kent or Kent State. Pino to be sentenced in SeptemberFormer Kent State professor Julio Pino is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept....

157 Lounge on S. Water Street in downtown Kent on Oct. 18, 2017.

157 Lounge co-owner in court dispute with Kent State graduate

Brandon Bounds October 18, 2017

A downtown Kent bar co-owner is seeking a restraining order against a Kent State alumna who he said defamed him online.Matthew Guska, one of the co-owners of 157 Lounge on S. Water Street, filed a complaint...