College students line up every week to enjoy college nights at Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, which are in full swing every Wednesday night.

Every Wednesday, College Country Night provides students under 21 a place where they can learn dances in a fun environment with more of a country atmosphere than a typical bar scene, said Brian Hynes, the 35-year-old owner. Students are encouraged, as they get older, to come on Thursdays and Saturdays when they can drink as well as line dance, Hynes said.

“I feel that students who go to college between 18, 19 and 20 want that college experience,” said Hynes. “Students would walk into Borderline, become occupied by the dances as opposed to other bars where all you can do there is drink. They actually want to learn the dances instead of just being able to drink.”

Borderline gets around 400 to 500 college students between the ages of 18 and 23 that attend college nights, according to Hynes. For the past 23 years, Borderline has constantly provided an atmosphere where different vendors, DJs and live bands can come and showcase their music.

“Every Friday we try to do an event,” said Hynes. “Whether it is comedy or country, we’re just trying to get people to come to Borderline.”

College nights started out as just hip hop and top 40 tracks held every Wednesday night, said Hynes. After a couple years, Hynes changed it to College County Night to provide a college experience for students who otherwise might miss out due to their age.

Many of the employees have been coming to Borderline for years. Lacy Mack, 24-year-old nursing major at Moorpark College and bartender at Borderline, has been going for the past seven years.

“I used to come every Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday for two years straight and then I was like, ‘Why don’t I work here?'” said Mack.

Aside from Borderline being the “bee’s knees” for many college students, Mitch Vlach, 19-year-old criminal justice major at Moorpark College, feels that it’s a place for students to come and just be themselves.

“Coming out here you can wear what you want,” said Vlach. “It kind of makes you feel like there’s still people out there that accept it.”

For some, Borderline is a place they call home with a laid back environment, great music and friendly faces.

“What I love about Borderline is that it has such a great family atmosphere,” said Mack. “Everyone knows everyone here. It’s almost like coming home where you get really comfortable here.”

Door prices range from $5 to $10, and if you arrive before 11 p.m. with a student ID, you get $3 off, according to Borderline.