The Inn Complete was created primarily as a graduate student facility, though many South Campus undergraduates are attracted to the convenient location. Its relaxing atmosphere and low food and drink prices don't hurt either.
Founded in 1987, the restaurant is one of few places run by SU that serves alcohol.
A small, brown sign on the front door warns, "You must be at least 21 years of age to patronize the Inn Complete after 8 p.m."
The other two places are the Carrier Dome and the Goldstein Alumni and Faculty Center. However, the alumni and faculty center only serves alcohol to staff members who sit in a different location than the students, said Donna Pascarella, manager of the center.
While the Inn Complete was created primarily as a graduate student facility, many undergraduates are attracted to the convenient location, relaxing atmosphere, and low food and drink prices.
The convenience for students in South Campus apartments and the different atmosphere from places such as Marshall Street are what sustains its popularity among students such as junior computer art major Emily Robins, who used to go once a week with her friends.
"We kind of treat it as a campus location from six to eight," said Craig Maffiore, senior concessions manager for the Carrier Dome and the Inn Complete. "So if you are under 21 you can come in, but you do need to vacate the premises by 8 p.m."
After 8 p.m., the Inn Complete workers check IDs at the door, said Monica King, the manager of the Inn Complete. However, they don't always check to make sure underage occupants leave by 8:00 p.m.
Sarah McCarthy, a sophomore public relations major, said that she has stayed at the Inn Complete past the allotted time for patrons under 21 years old.
"I've never been served alcohol," she said. "But I have been there past 8:00, and they have never kicked me out."
In 2001, the Graduate Student Organization joined forces with SU Food Services and continued to run the facility as a club. They changed direction in 2005 and opened the Inn Complete up to SUpercard purchases, creating the present-day restaurant and bar.
SU Food Services and the GSO mutually run the Inn Complete, said Patrick Wilcox, president of the GSO. The Inn Complete is open every day of the week except for Sunday. Thursday and Friday are their busiest days, said King, and it remains open until 2 a.m. both nights.
The Inn Complete has a full liquor license, said Maffiore. The staff is allowed to serve beer, wine, and mixed drinks at the facility.
While SUpercard money is accepted as payment for food and soft drinks, alcohol purchases must be made with cash, he said.
Two forms of identification are required to buy alcoholic beverages, said Wilcox. However, Andrew Usyk, a senior history major, said that he has bought beer at least five times at the Inn and has never been asked for a second form of identification.
All graduate students get an additional 25 percent off the Inn's prices, said King. They also can buy certain beers for $1.00 that are originally priced at $2.00.
Currently, the Inn Complete performs approximately 250 transactions on their busiest nights, said King. Business is slower during the week, with only around 50 to 60 transactions each night.
These beer prices are less than Marshall Street bars, said Usyk, who believes the lower prices would attract students to the Inn Complete. A bottle of Budweiser is $2.00 at the Inn Complete while it costs $3.50 at Harry's Bar on Marshall Street, said John Shahin, the owner of Harry's Bar.
The Inn Complete can afford to keep their drink prices low because they are a subsidized bar and receive funding from the GSO, which in turn is funded by graduate students, said King. In return for the funding, the Inn Complete promises to keep their prices low for the students whose money is helping run the facility.
The GSO, SU Food Services and the Inn Complete staff will always consider the facility a home on campus for SU's graduate students.
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