Saturday, October 26, 2013

That's it for Heathers ... for now

[Image via]

Word on East 13th Street was that Heathers would close at the beginning of December. However, that closing came earlier than expected, as Grub Street first reported late yesterday afternoon. Per Grub Street, "the locks have been changed illegally."

Ray Lemoine and Michael Herman took over the bar just east of Avenue A during the summer of 2012.

Back to Grub Street:

Lemoine and Herman say they were gradually being pushed out of the bar, which came with a history of complaints and controversy. Initially, a cash settlement with the landlord established an end date of December 1, 2013 for the East 13th Street space.

Heather Millstone opened Heathers in 2005 ... and the bar quickly became a lightning rod for noise complaints. (The Times had a lengthy article in January 2007 about the ongoing noise issues between the bar and neighbors.) You can read more about the bar's CB3 issues here.

We asked Lemoine a few questions via email last night about what's next.

What are your feelings about how things came to a rather abrupt end here?

Sad. Staff is sad, customers are sad. But I'm kind of happy I can stop drinking for a bit. Would have a proper send off.

Are you looking to relocate in the East Village?

We have a few great options right nearby and are looking to close a deal ASAP. We love the North East Village.

What's your assessment of the East Village nightlife scene these days?

I like many of the old bars. I love Lit for its club scene. But there aren't many cool new spots despite all the blogs telling you about these cool new spots. ACME is great, but it's in NOHO. Cocktail bars and $9 sandwich shops should be banned. Nightlife is pretty dead in the East Village in terms of, say, hearing a great DJ and dancing and not paying $12 for a drink. I miss The Hole. I mean, now that Heathers is closed, there isn't even a lesbian/heroin rock bar left in the East Village (frown face).

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Am I meant to feel sorry for someone who was partly to blame for the wooness of the neighborhood?

Anonymous said...

Their client is not wooers.

Anonymous said...

I am sooooo tired of the fucking loud drunks roaming the street of our neighborhood most evenings I am thrilled to hear news that there will be one less bar farting them out in the wee hours. When your business impacts the lives of your neighbors you are going to make enemies.

Anonymous said...

He lost me at the end by writing "frown face."

Glenn Belverio said...

Heathers was about the only bar in the EV that I liked. Sorry to see them go.

Anonymous said...

Superdive. Heathers. Hoping for the 13th Step and Billy Hurricane's and all those other bro obnoxious bars to be next.

Anonymous said...

" Nightlife is pretty dead in the East Village in terms of, say, hearing a great DJ and dancing and not paying $12 for a drink."

yeah, the culture that the E.V. is built on, eh?

good riddance.

Anonymous said...

So many lame haters. Move from Manhattan if you don.t like people out at the 'wee' hours. Or buy ear plugs, they work. Nobody likes you and you can get much bigger apartment in north Carolina to sit on the couch and watch Netflix all night.

blue glass said...

anonymous 4:02
where are you from and how old are you?
just asking.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, lesbians love their heroin!
What's so great about listening to someone play records?

Anonymous said...

if you put heathers in the same bucket as superdive or 13th step, you've obviously never been in there. heathers was definitely NOT an awesomebro hangout.

Anonymous said...

it's better than an ipod that was preloaded by an agency?

Anonymous said...

Good one. Yeah!

Anonymous said...

Thank you anonymous 4:02!!!Remember the monicker "The City That Never Sleeps"? Apparently, this neighborhood wants nothing to do with the NYC of legend. They want their neighborhood shuttered and quiet at 11pm!!!!!!!! Lived in neighborhood 25 years. I live above 5 establishments with full liquor licenses. Earplugs, closed windows. Never had a noise problem. What the WOOHOO Haters dont realize is that their effort to get rid of their neighborhood bars is gonna turn OUR neighborhood into 7-11, Duane Reade, Dunkin Donuts TOWN....BYE BYE CITY THAT NEVERS SLEEPS...HELLO 7-11!!!!!!!!!!WOOOHOOO!!!!!!

Hey19 said...

Too Bad, I liked Heathers. It def should not be lumped in with the superdives etc.

Anonymous said...

Heathers wasn't like anything else. On any given night there'd be a merry cast of weird/interesting/ and sometimes drunk characters. There was always good conversation and sometimes one drink too many. RIP heathers, you'll be missed more than my ex boyfriend.

Anonymous said...

@Anonymous 7:56
This neighborhood was never filled with loud drunks "woo" in the past the way it is now. Been here since 81' and yes we went out and had a good time but roaming in packs of 6-8 shit face didn't happen ever. We had underground clubs, performance places, and there were a lot less people living here then to disturb. Ihops, 7-11s and shit corporate stores don't wake we up 3 times per night but sports bars, pub crawlers and frat rooftop parties do.