Tuesday, November 4, 2008

RIP Holland Bar


Ugh. Jeremiah reports today that the Holland Bar on Ninth Avenue near 39th Street at the ass-end of Port Authority is now closed. Arguably the best lonely old man bar in the city. I could go on about the double-whammy of hitting the Holland and the neighboring Bellevue (which is now Duff's in Williamsburg) for an afternoon or evening. Last time I went to the Holland, the bartender asked me if I wanted some snacks. They had tortilla chips! I politely declined, but he insisted. I watched him struggle with opening the sealed bag. He dumped some into a plastic bowl for me. Despite coming from a freshly opened bag, the chips were soggy. Beyond stale. It just seemed perfect.

[Photo by Shanna Ravindra/New York]
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8 comments:

  1. Ken MacNovember 4, 2008 at 2:06 PM

    surely the Holiday on St Marks is next? I sure as hell hope not. I know it attracts some fratholes but I like that place .

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  2. AnonymousNovember 4, 2008 at 2:52 PM

    I certainly hope not, Ken! But I do worry about all these places in the neighborhood...the Holiday, Lucy's, Joe's, Blarney Cove, Mars Bar, Sophie's/Mona's....The Grassroots seems to be doing OK -- and the owner, uh, owns the whole building...

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  3. AnonymousNovember 4, 2008 at 4:26 PM

    ...and I meant to include the International and Blue & Gold in my previous comment...

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  4. esquared™November 4, 2008 at 4:32 PM

    Need not forget Doc Holliday's--hope that stays, too. All these pubs are great to visit except on the weekends when the UESiders, B&T's tourists, invade these places. Weeknights are the best --mostly Tuesday Nights and Wednesday nights.

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  5. boweryboogieNovember 4, 2008 at 5:00 PM

    i often wonder how mars bar can still survive there. long term lease? do they own the space?

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  6. AnonymousNovember 4, 2008 at 5:22 PM

    Thanks, Esquared...Yes, let's include Doc H's and the other bars in the McWaters empire: Library, etc.

    Good question, BB: Dunno about the lease on Mars Bar or who owns the building...I remember being there several years back when the bartender said the building was being torn down to make way for a big condo. They managed to avoid the death by Avalon Place.

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  7. Brooks of SheffieldNovember 4, 2008 at 7:30 PM

    Might not close for good. Talked to Mangarano's HeroBoy and they said it may reopen in the spring.

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  8. AnonymousNovember 4, 2008 at 10:34 PM

    Good news, Brooks...thanks.

    ReplyDelete

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