Autumn is finally here, and as you can expect Mother Nature to make a change to the weather, residents can expect a change at one of Pullman’s bars and nightlife hangouts. Pullman’s The Zzu Bar & Grill is closing after eleven years of business.

Although The Zzu will be gone, the memories I have made there will never be forgotten. From Latino Night on Thursday nights to Wing Wednesdays, and every other weekend I spent there watching college sports with friends and family.

Doug Cooper, who was one of my track coaches at Garfield High School and the former owner of The Zzu, allowed me to throw multiple parties at his venue over the past four years I have been a student here at WSU.

Spring of my sophomore school year, I was walking home from track practice and ran into Doug at Cougs Corner Mart, a corner store in Pullman across the parking lot from The Zzu.

That’s when he told me that he was the owner of the bar and invited me to come out for a few drinks. So, I did. He mentioned that he would let me throw parties at his bar, that I just needed to let him know in advance and he would make it happen. So, I did. We called it “The Henny and Coke” night and, to my surprise, the turnout was exceptional. At least from what I remember.

Needless to say, I am disheartened by this news.

The Zzu Bar & Grill was established in 2006 and is a family-formed partnership with one goal: to be the best bar in Pullman. They hosted trivia nights, gave great discounts on their food nightly, and the scene was never dull with its various colored fluorescent lights flashing during the evening.

Additionally, The Zzu offered a full service bar, food, pool, air hockey, darts, music, dancing and live DJs.

Alumni, residents and students mourn the closure of The Zzu all the same. Paulina from YELP posted a review of the bar and said it was a “wonderful place to chill with friends! Great food, ambiance, and service! … Fun place to enjoy $3 wings on a Wednesday, dance salsa on a Thursday, and play pool on a Friday night, danced the Cupid shuffle and wobble here.”

The fond memories didn’t stop at YELP, with some Facebook comments from an article by The Daily Evergreen showing the hole that will be left by this handout spot.

“I just can’t believe it closed,” wrote Rick Douglas Flores, a former Evergreener and sad bar-goer. “So many friendships and memories were made at this bar. I used to do photos at their Latino night on Thursdays and it was the best times I had! My friends and I always look forward to our weekly get-together at Latino night.”

Irvin Smith expressed his long history with the bar in a few short sentences in the comments section as well.
“My old roomie used to smuggle me wings on Wednesday before I turned 21,” he wrote. “Ended up doing my 21st there and many trips after. Good memories.”

Lauren Small wrote of The Zzu’s inception.

“I remember when it opened in summer of 2006, I lived across the street in North Campus Heights,” she wrote. “Good times and great people!”

Moving forward after this loss to Apartment Land and Pullman community, I guess what people would want to know is: What’s next?

Javin Nash is a senior digital technology and culture major from Seattle. He can be contacted at [email protected].