American Junkie Dots the ‘i’ As San Diego’s Rockin’ Ohio State Game-Watching Bar

Where OSU Alumni Cheer For The Buckeyes In The Gaslamp Quarter

By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com San Diego Nightlife Blogger

They stand up and spell O-H-I-O with their hands, sing the fight song and cheer loudly at every score.

While also drinking beer and other libations and playing a lively game of beer pong.

“They” are the Ohio State alumni who now live in San Diego and each college football Saturday, they gather at American Junkie in the Gaslamp Quarter. While it’s not quite Ohio Stadium, American Junkie does dot the ‘i” as San Diego’s rockin’ Ohio State game-watching bar.

The San Diego chapter of the OSU alumni association makes it home there and the large bar is filled with Buckeyes faithful. But you certainly don’t even have to be an Ohio State fan to enjoy the atmosphere. Heck, I even saw a Michigan man there.

That’s because AJ has the largest TV screen in the Gaslamp and likely the biggest you’ll see anywhere. It’s actually the entire back wall.

Beyond the game, there’s a DJ pumping music during commercials, a confetti machine goes off after TDs and a beautiful girl on a ladder at the side of one of the two bars pours shots down people’s throats after they spin a prize wheel and hands out Jell-O shots when Ohio State scores a touchdown.

“What do you do if they kick a field goal,?” I asked the Sarah, the lovely shot girl.

“I’m not sure!,” she replied with a laugh, her double-dimples making me forget all about the game.

The staff is in a good mood as well, always smiling, which certainly adds to the fun factor.

This is a good time to be a Buckeyes fan, too. The football team is in the College Football Playoffs and the basketball team is a legitimate Final Four contender.

American Junkie is easy to find – it’s on the nightlife nirvana section of 5th Ave., the area between Market Street and G Street, just up Market from Barleymash.

For those in the North County, the Ohio State Alumni Association’s other game-watching bar is Oggi’s in Del Mar.

Next Game: Saturday, Dec. 28, 5 p.m. vs. Clemson (Fiesta Bowl)
National Championship: Monday, Jan. 13, 5 p.m. (New Orleans)

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