The College Inn

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The College Inn was founded in 1957 by the Neofitse family. According to W&L student Will Massie Jr. “It began as a pool room and evolved into the College Inn when it added the restaurant. In 1963 the Neofitses bought the building and added a dance floor in the back. Old school pictures on the wall, a juke box, pizza, and beer attracted crowds primarily of students” (Massie Jr. 1985). A 7 foot cable color TV was also added to the lounge some years later.

The bar in the rear of the College Inn was known as the Stonewall Lounge, and it was immensely popular among both W&L and VMI students. One cadet said the College Inn was “the only bar in town”. Another stated, “It’s really the best place in town, if you want to go some place nice.” The manager of the restaurant, Mr. Mull, played an instrumental role in getting the no Sunday beer sales law repealed. He also helped to obtain liquor-by-the-drink approval in Lexington. Mr. Mull would serve as the manager of the College Inn until it closed in 1979. The College Inn was especially popular for its hours; the restaurant and bar were open seven days a week with the earliest closing time of midnight on Sundays.