The bar formerly known as the Mad Hatter –– originally called The Annex –– has rebranded yet again, this time under the name The Old Henry.
The decision to rebrand took place in June during a change of ownership when The Mad Hatter and Rafters, another bar on the Square, were purchased by a group of investors, beginning a new chapter for nightlife in downtown Oxford.
“While the majority of the changes occurred behind the scenes, it was decided that the Mad Hatter needed a more fitting name,” senior accounting major and bartender at The Old Henry Garret Holland said.
The bar’s new name pays homage to the location’s rich historical ties. 1002 E. Jackson Ave. was once home to J. R. Cofield’s studio, where some famous portraits of William Faulkner were taken.
“The same brick backdrop is still there to this day, and you can even sit where he sat for his portraits,” general manager Blake Dougherty said. “As for the name itself, the building that we all know and love as Rafters Music and Food is where the Henry Hotel was located in the 1970s. So drawing from the Henry Hotel name and the rich history from both floors of the building, we created The Old Henry.”
Much like its predecessors, The Mad Hatter and The Annex, The Old Henry plans to provide patrons drinks and live music every weekend.
“Outside of the music, we put a lot of focus into our cocktails and food. We want the quality of our drinks to match the quality of our music,” Holland said. “We want to recreate the old school feel of famous piano bars like those on Beale Street.”
University students like senior marketing major Sophie King have high hopes for The Old Henry.
“I’m sad that I never got to go when it was called The Mad Hatter, but I am excited to experience the new one. … I have heard so many great things about the food, drinks and atmosphere,” King said. “I am honestly just looking forward to experiencing it because the vibe is so different from a lot of the bars here in Oxford.”
While some may mourn the loss of the whimsical environment of The Mad Hatter, Dougherty is optimistic about the future of The Old Henry.
“I think the community will react very positively to the changes,” Dougherty said. “We will still have our awesome dueling piano performances every Friday and Saturday from 8-12, but since we have fine-tuned our menu and service, the regulars can attest that we have definitely created a more enjoyable experience.”
