Brian Palmer Fights to Keep Hokie House Open as Rising Rent Threatens Its Future

By: Zoe Santos, Milana Waller, and Landon Swanson, arts, culture, and sports reporters

Hokie House, a longtime staple of Blacksburg’s downtown and a favorite among Virginia Tech Students, is facing an uncertain future. Owner Brian Palmer shared that the bar is struggling to stay open after the rent prices were raised. The steep increase has put immense financial pressure on the business, leaving Palmer unsure how much longer Hokie House can afford to keep its doors open.