Going Forward

While The Hut on the corner off the campus of Santa Clara University is just one example of an establishment in the understanding of the importance of “town” and “gown”, it is a specific example of the overall understanding of how local businesses in college towns facilitate a unique bond between universities and their local surroundings. 

Locating specific instances of the connection between colleges and communities creates the understanding that the connection is alive and thriving between the two. It is important, especially for college students, to recognize the significance of surrounding communities and build forth the bond that arises between the two when both parties are open to working together and thriving off of the positive aspects that each provide.

The purpose of this research is to recognize the significance of campus and town community through union and the establishments that serve that purpose. Whether it is a campus bar next to Harvard University, a restaurant associated with the University of Kansas or a small, bar-turned-restaurant renovated to better fit the needs of the town and school in Santa Clara, California - the human connection and bond that forms when eating, drinking and sharing an experience is important to recognize in its entirety.