The Big House Brew Pub, rebranded as Blues Brews, is located on the busy corner of Boyer Ave and Palouse St. It is a gateway location between the college and downtown Walla Walla. 

In Nov. 2025, Whitman College purchased the restaurant for $1.5 million, according to Vice President of Finance and Administration Jeff Hamrick. There has been no formal announcement of the purchase aside from The Union Bulletin and an email sent by President Bolton to students in Dec. 

Administrators plan to open the exterior of the building with a Whitman-owned food truck parked outside mid-May, 2026, and estimate the restaurant and pub will open around Aug. 1st with a 21+ area around the bar. 

In preparation for these dates, administrators are renovating portions of the interior based on student input. Others on campus view the space as an investment complicated by recent budget cuts and changes to staff and faculty benefits. 

Hamrick explained that he hopes to open the exterior for students and community members’ use before unveiling the interior space, in turn operating the building as efficiently as possible before opening this summer. 

“We don’t have any fundraised dollars or defined plans for that land, though, so, rather than leave a building boarded up and unused on the edge of campus, it makes sense to continue to operate it,” Hamrick said. 

He described the general timeline for opening the building, emphasizing his belief that opening part of a new space is better than leaving the building as-is this spring. 

“The inside will continue to be renovated, and we expect to soft launch the whole facility as a pub and restaurant on Aug. 1, 2026,” Hamrick said. “There will be the patio area […], the main dining area when you walk in and we’re going to redo the walls to feature Whitman Blues, meaning Whitman athletics paraphernalia.” 

According to Hamrick, renovations focus on creating more social spaces that are based on student interests. 

“There’s a side area where the previous owner had seating that was frankly not used a lot, so we’re turning that into a socialization and gaming area. There’s probably going to be two dartboards, two pool tables and a foosball table. And we are opening up the doorway that leads to the old brewing area […],” Hamrick said. “[W]e haven’t made any purchases yet, but feedback we got from students is that they might enjoy amenities like video games and pinball machines back there.” 

Whitman’s Vice President of Communications, Gina Zandy Ohnstad, explained that student input remains central to any changes made to the property. 

“The college has conducted several focus groups with students to listen to what they would like to see in the space, and the response has been really positive,” Ohnstad said. “Blues Brews will open up new food options for students as well as opportunities for student employment, which both have been well-received by students.” 

Ohnstad and Hamrick agreed that focus groups provided insight into student priorities, as they hope the space will connect students with Walla Walla residents. Ohnstad specified that the new dining area will appeal to community members, functioning similarly to Cleveland Commons, which is open to the public. She explained that an abundance of non-students dine at the main dining hall despite its on-campus location. 

“Since the opening of Cleveland Commons in 2018, we’ve seen clear interest from Walla Walla residents, not only in affordable dining options, but in feeling genuinely welcomed on campus and connected to the Whitman College community,” Ohnstad said. 

Although administrators hope Blues Brews will create a community space, some students and faculty express hesitation about the cost and minimal communication regarding purchasing the property. 

The purchase, as well as plans to alter the space, follow an announcement from June 2025 that the college had a $3 million shortfall for the upcoming year. Now, faculty and staff are voicing concerns about cuts to benefits, culminating in the formation of a staff union, Whitman College Workers United, in Feb. Alongside these financial decisions, some feel disregarded in the choice to buy and open Blues Brews. 

Associate Professor of German Studies and Environmental Humanities Emily Jones described her opinion on the campus addition as a faculty member. 

“I’m not thrilled about the Brew Pub — I don’t think it was a good investment or a necessary one, when Reid is underutilized. I’m most offended by the college buying the Brew Pub without a definite plan for its use and also by the lack of communication about it to the faculty,” Jones said. 

Jones also questioned the impact of another college-owned dining facility on the larger Walla Walla community. 

 “I don’t think it will connect students and Walla Walla residents any more effectively than Brew Pub already did,” Jones said. 

Opinions on Blues Brews vary between curiosity, hope and hesitation as the building prepares to open this spring and summer. As administrators work to open the space for students and community members, some look forward to its potential as a community space, while others consider additional financial contexts on campus.