Thursday, December 1, 2016

A look at the former Rodeo Bar, currrently being transformed into the Gem Saloon



And from up on Third Avenue at 27th Street, EVG reader Stephen Popkin shares these photos of the new facade of the incoming Gem Saloon ... owned by the folks who run East Village bars Phebe's on the Bowery and Penny Farthing on Third Avenue ...



The space was previously home for 27 years to the Rodeo Bar. The former Rodeo Bar sign has been removed from the building... its fate unknown at the moment...



As we first reported in July 2014, the Rodeo Bar — billed as "NYC’s longest running honky-tonk" — closed for good after 27 years in business. In a message on Facebook, the owners said that recent rent increases, "combined with a changing landscape, have made it impossible for us continue."

Kips Bay Corner reported yesterday that the Gem Saloon is expected to open on Jan. 4.

Back in June, a broker for the landlord told this to The Commercial Observer: "The Rodeo Bar was in operation for over 25 years, and hadn’t renovated or changed the interior in many years. The new tenants will transform the space into a first-class eating and drinking establishment. The tenant plans to renovate the entire space, to cater to a sophisticated clientele, that enjoy a wonderful atmosphere and quality food and spirits."

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

" The tenant plans to renovate the entire space, to cater to a sophisticated clientele, that enjoy a wonderful atmosphere and quality food and spirits."

Really, in Kips Bay?

Anonymous said...

The Rodeo Bar..Crappy food and beer but the Music was terrific and free peanuts...What a shame it had to go.

Anonymous said...

If the new Gem Saloon is run with the same eye for quality and service the way the new owners run their other three establishments then this will be a change for the better in a BIG way. The food and service are outstanding and the price is fair. The places are clean. The seating is adequate and reasonably comfortable. What more can you ask for when you go out to eat or drink? No I am not one of the owners, nor am I a relative. Just a patron.

Anonymous said...

"...a first-class eating and drinking establishment. The tenant plans to renovate the entire space, to cater to a sophisticated clientele, that enjoy a wonderful atmosphere and quality food and spirits."

Reads exactly like parody. Press-release-speak is slowly killing us all.

F.O.A.D.

Brickface said...

I'm all in favor of these quality owners opening this spot, but who in the hell is doing their facade work, Garden State Brickface and Stucco? They might as well put up aluminum siding, I passed by this yesterday and those fake looking bricks stick out like a sore pink thumb. They almost look bleached. Sure hope they put a finish on them that matches the nice warm bricks on the rest of the building.

Anonymous said...

Someone please open this up in NYC:

A nightclub with a stage behind a metal fence so you can throw beers at the band a la The Blues Brothers.

Put a twist on it: Let the band spray people with a garden hose through holes in the fence.

Michael Ivan said...

lol 8:46.

Surprised to see the praise for these owners, now that I think of it, the service and staff is very good at Phebe's and Penny. Food, drink, and clientele are a bit shit though.

Anonymous said...

Good luck finding anything sophisticated in Murray Hill bro.

Anonymous said...

what's gonna happen to that gorgeous neon sign?!?!?

Scuba Diva said...

At 5:36 PM, Anonymous said:

what's gonna happen to that gorgeous neon sign?!?!?

I know, right? Somebody grab that sign!

Scooby said...

Seems many like this quote: "a first-class eating and drinking establishment. The tenant plans to renovate the entire space, to cater to a sophisticated clientele, that enjoy a wonderful atmosphere and quality food and spirits."

Just sittin' here shaking my head when I read this. What C R A P... Pandering to egos and entitlement. How about a place without the bullshit hype and pretension? "sophisticated" - HA. The use of the word "clientele" is obnoxious, pandering. "wonderful atmosphere"... jeeez.

I got nothing else to say...

Anonymous said...

A sophisticated saloon LOL.