Following the Wolfpack’s win against North Carolina Saturday, some fans chose to celebrate the victory at several local bars and restaurants donning N.C. State red. 

Mitch’s Tavern, one of the oldest establishments on Hillsborough Street, was no exception. A group of around 20 fans along with other small groups filled the pub to continue the victory celebration.

When the Wolfpack takes home a big win, patrons like to celebrate with a pint or bottle of their favorite beer. Mitch’s Tavern owner, Mitch Hazouri, has been familiar with this pattern for more than 40 years. Hazouri, a former student at State, bought what was formerly a nightclub in 1972 and has seen how the success of Wolfpack basketball correlates with his business.

“If it’s a major thing, it builds up and people want to be around other people,” Hazouri said. “That’s the thing. When people want to be around other people, that’s when they’ll all gather in here and watch the game.”

Hazouri said the 1980s and ‘90s saw the most successful basketball season sales in Mitch’s history. The Pack notably won its second national title in 1983 and brought two ACC tournament championships to Raleigh in the ‘80s. State also qualified for the NCAA tournament in 1991 but went on to experience an 11-year drought in tournament appearances.

Hazouri said customers would come from outside North Carolina to be part of the N.C. State experience at Mitch’s during the program’s glory days.

“We have a history of people that were here before the games in the ‘80s and ‘90s before the game was at Reynolds and they would still come here,” Hazouri said.

Because Mitch’s main clientele includes students and faculty of the University, Hazouri said its best beer sellers, even during basketball season, are microbrews and other local brands. Before the emergence of local breweries in North Carolina, Guiness Stout and Bass, brands that would be considered on more of the pricy side, were staples of Mitch’s basketball scene.

Newcastle Brown Ale, an English brand owned by Heineken, is the best seller at the tavern during basketball season. Hazouri said Newcastle is more popular among its student patrons than the faculty.

The major American brands, such as Budweiser-owned brands, are not among the top choices of most Mitch’s patrons despite it being marketed towards sports fans, according to Hazouri.

With the allure returning to the basketball program last season, Hazouri said Mitch’s also saw some old and new customers return to enjoy the team’s success, but it is still a niche market. The pub’s most successful game day sales are during and after weekend home games, but it’s still not as big as it was in the 80’s.

“It’s not a major thing anymore,” Hazouri said. “Everyone has access to big screen TVs.”

The drinking age being increased to 21 in 1986 also caused a shake in the popularity of watching games at bars among students, according to Hazouri.  

“They can’t smoke in here and students can’t drink,” Hazouri said. “So students are going to go.”