It was (perhaps still is) like a siren call for students. Gazing out the window, lost in a boring class, a cold beer and Turkey Delight were always waiting for you at Riprocks. During the O.J. Simpson trial, I asked my college algebra professor if he was letting us out for the verdict. He said no. I politely excused myself to watch it at Riprocks; many other students made the same call.
Last night, the local restaurant and bar announced on Instagram that after 34 years, it will close on May 28, 2025.
"It was a great run, but between the rising cost of insurance, food, alcohol and other expenses, Riprocks is no longer sustainable."
The post says that "your favorite bartenders" will be across the street at Cool Beans Bar and Grill.
The comment sections are filled with "Ain't no ways" and memories of the bar's role in those formative college years.
Riprocks remained a bar for the ages while so much around it changed. The popular Fry Street area was, at one time, a thriving counterculture hub of funky cafes, restaurants and bars. The Tomato, a pizza spot in a 1920s-era building, was evicted to make way for a developer to build a CVS. (It's now a mixed-use development, and the CVS is actually down the street.) While many of the mainstays that reflected the culture of the '80s and '90s, particularly goth scenes, gave way to more ubiquitous places. But Riprocks and Cool Beans stood strong.
You'll have until the end of May to get one more round and relive those old days. If you really want to wax nostalgic. Mr. Chopsticks has moved to another part of town, and The Tomato Pizza has a food truck at 208 N. Austin Street.
