Tuesday, December 6, 2016

[Updated] Patrons trying to help keep Big Lee's open on 1st Avenue

We noticed that Big Lee's (aka the Hard Swallow Saloon), the no-frills bar at 140 First Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street, has been closed the past week.

Some patrons of Big Lee's have started a fundraising campaign to help keep the bar open. Here's part of their appeal:

We are friends of Big Lee's The Hard Swallow Saloon, and are fighting to keep another true dive bar from being kicked out of the big city. Due to a re-neg on a purchase agreement of the bar, our friends are now having to incur some serious legal fees to fight this injustice, and also cover lost revenue while the bar is closed. ... So we're asking for everyone to help pitch in a little to help cover the legal fees & get our favorite bar back open.

So far, the group has raised some $1,400 of a $10,000 goal.

The bar opened in the summer of 2015 in the former Spanky and Darla's space. Big Lee is a former doorman/bouncer at Hogs & Heifers as well as Coney Island High on St. Mark's Place (he is also originally from Coney Island).

Updated 12/10

Big Lee's is back open...


[Photo by Steven]

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8 comments:

  1. AnonymousDecember 6, 2016 at 10:25 AM

    Look, dive bars are great, but I still miss when this was International Meats...and that wasn't all that long ago. I preferred their kielbasa to everyone else's in the neighborhood. And that was when there was actually a selection of sausage around here. Not like now when all we can choose between is overpriced, probably-only-here-for-a-short-while restaurants and bars.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousDecember 7, 2016 at 11:30 AM

    can anyone please tell me how to contact big lee et al to help them

    thanks

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousDecember 7, 2016 at 12:52 PM

    What are the remaining dive bars left in the East Village besides Mona's?

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousDecember 7, 2016 at 1:10 PM

    https://www.gofundme.com/help-save-the-hard-swallow-saloon

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousDecember 7, 2016 at 2:26 PM

    The draw of dive bars is the thing that kills them -- cheap drinks.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousDecember 7, 2016 at 3:00 PM

    If you live in the EV /LES and you have to ask what dive bars still are around you should check out what you have been doing for the past decade. I wouldn't name my favorites for fear that people like you would start going there as would those horrible sorts with their ugly Christmas sweaters. Keep silent on the great dive bars to keep them great dive bars.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousDecember 7, 2016 at 11:15 PM

    12:52 PM is only asking for a friend ;)

    ReplyDelete

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