You’ve driven past it countless times. The retro sign, the glass block windows, the tiny parking lot nestled next to a tiny strip mall. It’s the recognizable, student-loved Zig.
But if you’re like me, you never really had the urge to go in. Whether it’s because you’re under 21 (and yes, they check IDs), bars aren’t your scene, or you thought you wouldn’t have a good time, choosing to go to this local staple for the first time can be something that may take some encouraging from your friends.
Leipzig Haus, more commonly referred to as “the Zig,” is the only bar within staggering distance of the university’s campus, making it a student hotspot.
Located at 2201 E. Livingston Ave. next to Bexley Motorcar Company, the Zig is a classic dive bar with Monday night karaoke and Tuesday night trivia to kick off each week.
When you first walk into the bar, you’re greeted with exactly the atmosphere that you would expect. It’s cozy and dark with a small section for darts, a pool table, a pinball machine, and in addition to seats at the bar, there are some tables with bar stools scattered around the interior.
The Zig doesn’t have a kitchen to serve any food, but they have complimentary self-serve popcorn from an old-school machine with optional hot sauce, which I recommend.
At first I thought the popcorn was kind of a strange snack to have, but the hot buttery flavor paired nicely with the intensity of the alcohol, making it a charming experience.
My first visit to the Zig was, to say the least, a wild ride. I went with fellow Chimes staff members, all of who had been there before for Tuesday night trivia.
Excesss (yes, it’s really spelled that way) Trivia hosted four rounds of free-to-play, rapid-fire, Jeopardy-style trivia from 10 p.m. to midnight with eccentric categories from Nintendo characters to cars to desserts and deserts with high-quality buzzers and an even higher-quality host.
The man who hosted the trivia, who introduced himself as Liam the Bastard, had energy and charisma that really added to the experience. He interacted with the audience and fan-favorite bartender Stan by throwing in some insult comedy and banter between questions and rounds. During my second Tuesday attending trivia Oct. 8, I even watched him take body shots off of a few people.
After slaying the dessert category and competing against other groups of students and other bar patrons, the attending Chimes staff members were named victorious, and we won a pitcher of Bud Light.
All in all, I can see why the Zig has turned into the campus-favorite bar. Aside from being so close to campus, it has a low-key atmosphere, good vibes, and reasonably-priced drinks.
The Zig is open Monday through Saturday from 12p.m.–2:30 a.m. and only accepts cash, but there is an ATM inside.
To learn more about the history of The Zig, read our previous article on the tavern.
