[EVG photo from July]
After sitting vacant for nearly 18 months on Third Avenue and East 27th Street, the space housing the former Rodeo Bar is coming back to life as — the Rodeo Bar.
Kips Bay Corner had the scoop yesterday that the owners of East Village bars Phebe's on the Bowery and Penny Farthing on Third Avenue will be reopening the space as the Rodeo Bar. There's no other information available at the moment.
As we first reported in July 2014, the 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."
The storefront at 375 Third Ave. had a $58,333 monthly rent ask.
I guess it makes sense since that's the area where their NYU patrons will move to after graduation but before they move out to the suburbs. Biff and Muffy will get jobs in midtown and won't want to schlepp down to the East Village except for Santacon, but they can still get fireball shots and scream at each other like they do at Phebe's and Penny Farthing.
ReplyDeleteIn the bigger picture, though, what a sad progression - from actual music venue and neighborhood institution to post-college drinking, yelling, brunching location.
Wow. That might be the most pretentious and ridiculous possible response I could possibly imagine! Glad this place is coming back. Hope they have live music and peanuts still!
DeleteThis is great news. Hope they plan to have live bands, strong margaritas, free peanuts and southern hospitality. woot woot!
ReplyDeleteThis is great news. I always liked this place and the food was quite good, too. And everything was reasonably priced. I assume they will continue to have live music. Saw some very good bands there.
ReplyDeleteThere was an SLA application last year... it went before CB6 and was very close to getting an endorsement, but the owners pushed for an as-of-right 4am weekend closing time & the board stuck to its guns and said they would not endorse "a new operator seeking a new OP license opening at 4am for the first year". (They do not consider whether the site itself was a 4am bar, or if the applicants are existing bar owners with a good record) It seemed the applicants went to take their chances with the SLA, though it was not confirmed that a license was established. But I suppose the real confirmation here will be when the "for rent" signs come down.
ReplyDeleteDitto. This is great news, that corner has been really dead since the old Rodeo Bar closed. Since the Penny Farthing has a No SantaCon policy I expect the same will be true for the new Rodeo. It was never just a giant bar, unlike Tonic and others, it had live music, fun crowds and good food, and was a neighborhood institution. Welcome back.
ReplyDeleteNO doubt the owners will do a great job. They recently did a renovation at Phoebes and ....it looks the same! But it is all new, which is so nice. The food, service and ambiance at both Phoebe's and Penny Farthing are excellent. So this is good news.
ReplyDeleteIf they bring it back with the same agenda as the old Rodeo Bar meaning they have live music and honky-tonk vibe, I'll have to say that's a good thing. The bros and woo girls might get a lesson in some music done with guitar, bass, drum and vocal.
ReplyDeleteSo happy to hear this!
ReplyDeleteI lived by here (my cousin's apt!) and always loved it being there - always able to stumble into a semi-TX vibe, hear a band, grab a drink, or a decent meal.
Love Rodeo Bar! So glad this is happening.
-Val!
A Texas Gal :)
Cowboy kisses!
ReplyDeleteDon't get your hopes up. It's just gonna turn into another yuppie frat bar. Boring & bland, just like what they turned the rest of this great city into complete & pure SHIT. AND overpriced.
ReplyDeleteI think that it a great move by the owners of Phebes/The Penny Farthing. They run their business' very well! I have lived in the neighborhood for 10 years and enjoyed all 3 of their locations. I am sure they will bring their good taste, great food and well managed way of business to The Rodeo.
ReplyDeleteYesssss I loved Rodeo Bar. I can't wait for it to come back. The Farthing owners run a good business. Their bars are always busy. Should be good things heading into summer
ReplyDeleteThis is great news. This spot has been vacant for over a year and we could do with a new place in the neighborhood . Phebes and the penny farthing are 2 great bars so hopefully the new owners create something similar here.
ReplyDeleteThis place had perhaps the third worst mensroom in Manhattan. But it would be welcome back in its old incarnation, perhaps with a renovated bathroom.
ReplyDeleteI used to live a block away in a rare grown-up building in Murray Hill, and I loved this place because the staff was awesome, and the clientele were definitely NOT lost on their way to Joshua Tree. Hope it stays that way. They better get Terese back as a bartender, and they better continue to operate during hurricane black-outs.
ReplyDelete