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An anonymous UNH student who attended The Blue Flame during their 18 and up policy noted a unique surge in patrons. \u201cPeople were kind of fighting to get in,\u201d said the student. There was a time where I probably waited in line for over an hour because they just had max capacity. There were other times where I would wait like twenty-five minutes and\u2026it means that there\u2019s people here, it means it’s going to be fun and busy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Manseau acknowledged that this surge in business, while still keeping up with their 18 and over age policy, created more problems than it did benefits.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s just no way to keep everybody safe,\u201d said Manseau. \u201cUnfortunately, the statistics are that those who are underage drinkers are more irresponsible and destructive. We had a lot of not great things happen at the restaurant, like people shoving stuff down the toilets and causing major plumbing problems and holes in the walls. We didn’t really have any fights. It\u2019s kind of a peaceful campus in that way,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Following in Libby\u2019s footsteps, Blue Flame opened \u2018The Cave,\u2019 a basement entertainment space. The space hosts shows featuring local and campus-formed bands, a weekly jazz night, and even speed dating events.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mia Conti, a second year student at UNH, enjoyed the band series put on in The Cave prior to the age policy change.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought the [Blue Flame] environment was great,\u201d said Conti. \u201cIt was a lot different than going to, say, a show at a frat or in a basement. It was a very different crowd\u2026I would say it was more of an alternative crowd. More people were dancing and it felt like a safe space to be expressive.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Manseau emphasized how important standing out in downtown Durham\u2019s culture is to their business model.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe intersection of where my partner [Gregory Lester], who\u2019s the chef, and I kind of collaborate is the entertainment and the food. We both share that love, so you know, we started the band series,\u201d Manseau said. A myriad of campus bands including Florence, Chauncey and Saguaro perform in The Cave throughout the week.<\/p>\n
While Manseau expressed that she and Lester wanted The Blue Flame to become a part of the fabric of nightlife in Durham, they wanted to move forth with a unique type of space that was different from the other offerings downtown.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to sustain ourselves, but we\u2019re not selfish. We understand that students like bar hopping. I mean, there used to be many more bars in Durham when I was a student here,\u201d Manseau said. \u201cBut I think our vibe is just different. We\u2019re more focused on music and socializing, and our environment is maybe just a little more chill. When it gets crowded maybe it doesn’t feel that way, but it\u2019s a little bit less frantic.\u201d<\/p>\n
Manseau expressed her desire for The Blue Flame to provide a space for UNH students to have access to a diverse array of entertainment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe really need those Durham residents to come out and eat dinner, support the food part of the business so we can offer more jazz nights and more band nights and karaoke and comedy, and then it doesn’t feel like it’s just a drinking bar, right? That was never our mission.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n