The story of this folk music venue at Macalester College is told by Lynn Saeger:

In 1968 the coffee house scene was popular, and the Student Activities Committee decided we needed one on campus. There was virtually no entertainment (since they ended mandatory Chapel lol) and the college was not opposed. A storage room in the basement of the student union was fixed up with a small stage, cafe tables, etc. to create an intimate performance space. Sounds great? Ah, but nothing is simple. Entrance to the coffeehouse was through The Grille restaurant, where I slaved as dishwasher and busgirl. Organizers planned to use the kitchen for preparing the coffee and snacks they would sell but the private company who owned the Grille said fuggedaboutit. The city inspectors told the college it couldn’t happen because the room had “no exit.”

But at Mac, there was nothing more exciting than a righteous cause and students rose to the challenge. After rallies and picketing the school more or less agreed to look the other way if a sign was posted, hence the name “No Exit,” and a ladder was placed that could reach an outside window. Coffee was produced via plug in percolator. A steady stream of local folk singers entertained us…I remember Jim Frey and Bruce Cottrell and a guy named Shawn with long hair. Leo Kottke, too. John Denver may have stopped in but I don’t personally remember it. I don’t know how long before the inspectors caught up with No Exit, but we surely had a good time!