New bar and restaurant revives a KU classic on 14th and Tennessee Street

**The Crossing, located at 14th and Tennessee Street, across from Bullwinkles. Photo by Maya Smith.**

Lawrence’s newest college bar, The Crossing, has become the fifth bar located along 14th Street, turning what used to be referred to as the “Triangle” of bars into a pentagon.

But this isn’t the Crossing’s first appearance in Lawrence. The original Crossing, located where the Oread Hotel sits now, was demolished in 2008 to make way for the hotel to be built. It was a popular bar in the 80s and 90s that several alumni remember fondly.

“I think my favorite memories from the old Crossing was a nice warm summer day after class meeting your friends,” said alumna Amy Graf.

Graf said she remembers the old Crossing for its convenient location on campus and for the Yello Sub next door, but is looking forward to trying out the newer version.

“I think being in a new area might be a little tricky, but I think this one isn’t too far and it’s right in a really cool, busy bar area, so it’s got a little to live up to but overall I think it’s going to be great,” she said.

The Crossing is the fifth bar to be added on the two blocks that house some of KU’s most popular bars like Jayhawk Cafe and the Wheel. General Manager Tyler Kraines says bringing more people to the area is good for everyone.

“A lot of people, at least back in the 80s and 90s and earlier, love the Crossing. So I think now to bring it back in the 2020s is pretty cool,” Kraines said. “I think it’s a great location to serve food all day and all night. Lots of walking traffic, a lot of people who live just a few blocks from here. I’d say it’s been pretty successful so far.”

The Crossing is open as a restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but turns into a bar that only serves drinks after 9 p.m. With students coming in both after class and at night, the Crossing staff expects to have a successful first semester.

“I have seen a lot of alumni come in kind of looking around excited to see what our version of the Crossing is like,” Kraines said. “We’re not trying to replicate the Crossing, just trying to provide as good of a time as they did in the 80s and 90s.”

With a daughter at KU, Graf hopes the new generation will enjoy the Crossing as much as she did.

“I’m looking forward to experiencing more fun memories now that my daughter goes to school here,” Graf said. “I hope that she can have some of the memories that I had.”

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