
Bloomington’s classic college bar! The Upstairs Pub has been a fixture on the campus of Indiana University since the Fall of 1984. Originating as an offshoot of the legendary 80s & 90s student-centric bar, HOOLIGANS; The Pub has been a favorite of locals, grad-students, undergrads and visitors for over four decades. In fact, The Upstairs Pub just celebrated it’s 40th year in Bloomington on December 17th of last year!
Hours
| Monday | 3 PM–3 AM |
| Tuesday | 3 PM–3 AM |
| Wednesday | 3 PM–3 AM |
| Thursday | 3 PM–3 AM |
| Friday | 11 AM–3 AM |
| Saturday | 11 AM–3 AM |
| Sunday | 11 AM–3 AM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 430 E Kirkwood Ave, Bloomington, IN 47408
Phone: (812) 333-3003
Website: https://www.upstairspub.com/
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Upon arriving, we showed our IDs to the first bouncer, who directed us to a second bouncer for an additional ID check before entering the pub. The second bouncer reviewed my ID and approved me without issue. For context, I am a current graduate student at IU, born in 1997.
He then examined my friend’s ID. She was born in 1998, yet he told her that her ID was fake and attempted to confiscate it. My friend firmly insisted that the ID was legitimate and asked what she could do to verify her identity. The bouncer claimed that the ID did not look like her and stated that she could prove it by using Face ID on her phone — a request that made no sense, as Face ID can be used by anyone with access to a phone and is not a valid form of identification.
While this interaction was taking place, white women were continuously passing us in line without being subjected to the same scrutiny or additional ID checks. The bouncer did not stop or question them at all.
It is important to note that in my friend’s ID photo, she was wearing a blonde wig and eyelash extensions, which she was not wearing that night. Despite these differences, it was still very clear that the ID belonged to her. Eventually, the bouncer stated that he was done speaking with us and suggested that we take the issue up with management.
Once inside the pub, the first employee we spoke to was dismissive. He waved his hand at us as if to shut down the conversation and said, “You’re here, you can just stay.” We explained that the issue was not about being allowed inside — it was about being racially profiled and feeling unsafe and unwelcome spending money at the establishment.
As we attempted to explain this, a man standing next to the employee aggressively turned toward me and shouted, “WHAT,” in a threatening manner. As a woman, I felt unsafe and intimidated. Engaging in a confrontation with a visibly intoxicated man who could physically harm me was not an option.
Another employee, Connor, eventually stepped in and attempted to provide some comfort. He expressed empathy and stated that although he is white, he understands what it feels like to be a minority. While he cannot fully understand the experience of being a minority in America, I did appreciate his effort to acknowledge our feelings and the fact that he was the only employee who showed us any compassion.
Based on this experience, I encourage people of color to be cautious when supporting Upstairs Pub, as our treatment made it clear that this is not an environment where we felt respected, protected, or supported.