Which came first: the MadHatters a cappella group, or the Madhatter bar?

It’s difficult to pin down the year that the Madhatter bar opened, but it’s safe to say the popular student hangout was established first. The MadHatters student singing troupe formed in 1997, but Madhatter bar is mentioned in the yearbook as early as 1990. Further proof includes multiple liquor-license violations between 1992 and 1994, which may help explain why it was a hotspot for students. A more charitable reason could be the bar’s original location in the old University Square. Madhatter’s spent more than two decades in the shopping center, alongside popular spots like Paisan’s Italian restaurant and the University Square Four movie theater. The center closed in 2006 for redevelopment, making the Madhatter homeless for a couple of years until it reopened on 328 W. Gorham St. in 2008. The bar closed for good in 2017, with Danny’s Pub taking its place. Luckily, if you’re looking for a madcap adventure in Madtown, the MadHatters A Capella are still going strong.