Another Oxford landmark will soon vanish, going the way of the water tower and the burnt-out Wendy's restaurant.
The Balcony bar has been a part of the Oxford community for nearly 40 years, but mid-November it will be torn down.
Owner Bryan Hoelzer has had a personal attachment to the 116 E. High St. address his entire life.
The downstairs was built in the mid-1960s, with the upstairs added later.
Hoelzer said he worked as a dishwasher at a restaurant called Ozzie's during high school. After the owner died, Hoelzer opened High Street Grill in its place in 1994.
Now Hoelzer has a family business that manages 300 properties in the area, including the Lofts of Bella Place.
Hoelzer said he's owned Balcony for nine years. The bar has been profitable every month of those nine years except two. While economic reasons are not why he wants to tear down Balcony, Hoelzer said he is ready for a change.
"It's time for it to be over and for me to do something else," Hoelzer said.
Balcony has had numerous popular musical acts on its stage - Kate Voegele, members of Coldplay and Corey Smith. Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has also walked through Balcony's doors.
"We've got a lot of great memories and will miss it," Hoelzer said.
In January, Hoelzer transformed High Street Grill into the Blue Room.
Hoelzer said he wanted a quiet place where students could go to have a conversation. He said there were nights where Blue Room sold more than Balcony.
"The students embraced it," Hoelzer said. "But we had our worst summer ever because the locals didn't embrace it (despite our marketing)."
To celebrate Balcony's long-standing legacy, Balcony's Last Stand will be from noon to 2:30 a.m. Nov. 7.
"We want everyone to remember Balcony," said Clark Benson, general manager of Balcony and Blue Room.
The all-day event will feature a different band every few hours.
The Balcony is slated to be demolished around Nov. 15. Until then, Hoelzer said, there will be many deals and events. DJ Phil Francis will be spinning tracks for eight more 80's Nights.
A public auction will be held sometime before the demolition for the entire interior of the two bars.
"I've spent nine years of my life building this place, it's going to be hard (to see it auctioned off)," Hoelzer said.
Benson, who graduated from Miami University last year, said he loves everything about the bar.
"We have the most amount of variety when it comes to music," Benson said. "It's sad because that's going to be one less stage for local bands."
Both Benson and Francis met their fiancées at Balcony. Francis even proposed at the Blue Room.
"It's going to be very strange the first time I come into town and don't see Balcony here," Francis said.
Hoelzer will be building an apartment complex, similar to the Lofts of Bella Place, with commercial businesses in the first floor. The building will accommodate 20 tenants and should be completed by next August.
Hoelzer said a motivator for building apartments are the changing tastes of the student body.
"Students have changed a lot and they're willing to pay more," Hoelzer said.
Hoelzer said the building plans are incomplete at this point but he's started talking with interested businesses about leasing space in the first floor.
"We want someone who's going to be here awhile, not a small store that won't last," he said.
To keep track of the coming events at Balcony, visit http://www.myspace.com/balconybar.
