Students from across the country are headed to Tuscaloosa for the fall semester. Here are five must-see spots for incoming University of Alabama freshman:

Rama Jama’s 

Right next to Bryant Denny Stadium, Rama Jama’s is the spot to go to on Saturdays before a football game. The restaurant has been a game day staple since September of 1996. Customers can expect breakfast served all day, hamburgers, and more. In the springtime, they offer crawfish every Thursday! The interior is filled with Crimson Tide memorabilia including autographed pictures, helmets, jerseys, and newspaper clippings.

The Quad

Did you know that the Quad was originally the location of home football games for the Alabama Crimson Tide from 1893 to 1914? The Quad has been a staple piece of history to the UA campus since it opened and is a must-see for first-timers on campus. The Quad is the geographic center of the UA campus and is surrounded by many of the university’s academic buildings. During the school year, food trucks line the streets and it is a popular spot for students during the week. Denny Chimes, a tall bell tower monument, can be found on the south side of the Quad.

JNJ

Located downtown, JNJ Apparel specializes in apparel centered around Tuscaloosa and The University of Alabama. During the school year, JNJ partners with sororities, fraternities, and on-campus organizations to create t-shirts for events and game days. Throughout the year, JNJ offers sweatshirts, t-shirts, and other merchandise focused on older game days and local businesses around Tuscaloosa. JNJ was started in 2004 by two brothers who wanted to create better t-shirts for their fraternity. Now, in addition to UA, they also create merchandise for other schools including the University of Georgia and Auburn. 

Swag

Located downtown on Greensboro Avenue, Swag is another store that offers fun merchandise centered around Tuscaloosa and Greek life. Potential new members planning to go through recruitment can purchase rush totes as well as sign up for a Bid Day package with personalized sorority items that can be sent to their dorm following the end of recruitment. In addition, there are a ton of great home decor and lifestyle products that are perfect for move-in. 

Avenue Pub

Avenue Pub has been a Tuscaloosa staple since 2014 and their menu truly has something for everyone. This year, Taste of Home voted them the “Best Burger in Alabama!” If you’re still looking to continue the fun after dinner, Avenue Pub recently unveiled an upstairs area with small plates, a drink menu, and a heated patio. They often have live music as well.

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