Uptown bar in Oxford closes after 6 years, replaced with new bar

Church Street Social has been a staple at Miami University for six years, offering trivia on Thursday nights, board games with friends, one-of-a-kind cocktails and more.

However, the college bar closed its doors on July 31, 2025.

Ann Kamphaus, co-owner with her husband Neil Kamphaus, said she accomplished what she wanted to with the bar and was ready to retire with her husband.

“We really appreciated the Miami students that embraced us, especially during COVID and after, and I just always tried to meet whatever they expected or what they wanted,” Ann said. “I know that the new owners will do the same thing. So it won't be Church Street, but it'll still be a place where I think the Miami students [will] have a lot of fun with each other.”

Morgan Higgins, a 2021 Miami alumna who attended the final trivia night, said she remembers coming to Church Street when it opened as “Books and Brews.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the original concept Ann opened with was coffee as the brew in the morning, and then it flipped over to craft beer in the afternoon and evenings, with books available all day.

However, when the brewery she was attached to went out of business, she rebranded into Church Street Social instead of closing her doors completely.

“It was always fun, like anytime you'd walk in here [you’d] see kids playing Scrabble or Battleship or Euchre with cards or Uno, and yeah, sometimes it was drinking Uno,” Ann said. “But it doesn't matter. You guys were socializing. And that was my whole point.”

The new bar is Lil Rudy’s, with locations at the University of Dayton and the University of Florida.

Owner and corporate marketing director Erin Schmidt said the 21 and up bar will have a soft grand opening on Friday, Aug. 15.

“It’s always been our dream to expand our brand,” Schmidt said. “I’ve [pushed] myself on wanting to make a safe and fun environment for college students. And with us being a majority women-owned business in our corporate, it’s been a good achievement. It’s been my dream to purchase a bar all my life, and my business partners gave me that opportunity.”

Lil Rudy’s will have live DJs every weekend, club vibes and eventually a $5 cover charge.