Sitting at the intersection of 14th and W Main Street, Boylan Heights has been a staple of the Corner life at the University since 2008. As part-restaurant, part-sports bar, Boylan draws students and Charlottesville locals to experience its University-themed menu and abundance of TVs placed around its two floors, especially on game days.
Many fourth-year students recall Boylan during its glory days — colloquially known as “the first-year bar,” with droves of underclassmen dancing upstairs three nights per week. However, students said that the once-bustling environment has been scarcely present since the 2023–2024 school year, replaced instead by eerily short lines and an empty dance floor.
Lauryn Kumpe, Boylan server manager and fourth-year College student, described how the bar’s reputation as a first-year bar is what once caused its popularity. At the same time, the reputation of being a haven for underclassmen is what eventually led to its downfall, according to Kumpe…